MINISTER FOR WOMEN

Apprenticeships

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps the Government are taking to ensure that older women have access to apprenticeships.

Meg Munn: Government are putting in place a coherent package of measures in response to employment issues faced by low-skilled women and identified by the Women and Work Commission. This includes building on trials of apprenticeships for mature learners, extending skills coaching and improving recruitment and progression pathways.

Cohabiting Relationships

Mary Creagh: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what assessment has been made of the impact on women's legal and financial status of the breakdown of cohabiting relationships.

Meg Munn: Legal and financial status will be covered in DCA-funded research on the legal rights of cohabitants and their children. A Law Commission review is considering the impact of the current law on cohabitants and children when a relationship ends through separation or death, and the merits of greater legal protection.

Political Representation

Graham Allen: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps she is taking to encourage women's representation in politics.

Meg Munn: In 2002 we introduced the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act allowing positive measures towards women's increased participation. This legislation is having an impact and the numbers are rising particularly in the parties that made use of these measures. 27 per cent. of Labour MPs are now women. Overall, 20 per cent. of MPs are now women compared with 9 per cent. before 1997.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Additional Costs Allowance

Norman Baker: To ask the Leader of the House what percentage of hon. Members claimed  (a) the maximum and  (b) within £5.00 of the maximum Additional Costs Allowance in each year since 1997.

Jack Straw: The information requested is as follows. Information prior to 2001-02 is not available. The 2005-06 Additional Costs Allowance figures are currently being compiled and will be published later this month.
	
		
			   Percentage of MPs claiming maximum ACA  Percentage of MPs claiming £5 of maximum (including those claiming the maximum) 
			 2001-02 8.6 17.5 
			 2002-03 35.5 38.8 
			 2003-04 23.2 33.7 
			 2004-05 28.5 31.6

Members' Pension Scheme

David Laws: To ask the Leader of the House what the annual savings would be from increasing the employee contribution rate of the hon. Members' pension scheme by one per cent.; and if he will make a statement.

Jack Straw: The net cost of the Parliamentary Contributory Pension Scheme is met by the Exchequer after taking into account the contributions made by Members of Parliament and the fund's investment income. An increase in the contribution rate by Members of 1 per cent. of their parliamentary salary would result in a net increase to the fund of approximately £383,000 per annum from this source, which would lead to a corresponding decrease in the Exchequer contribution.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Competitiveness

Michael Fabricant: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent steps he has taken to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of British exporting companies; and if he will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: International trade is an essential part of the UK's prosperity. Over a quarter of our GDP is exported. Foreign-owned businesses account for around 20 per cent. of UK jobs in production sectors, and 9 per cent. of service sector jobs (excluding financial services).
	Through UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Government launched their new five-year strategy "Prosperity in a Changing World" on 20 July. This represents a step change in our support for British businesses trading internationally. Key themes of the strategy include developing a programme of support for companies trading internationally in emerging markets such as India and China; marketing the UK internationally as a place to do business in and with; actively supporting knowledge-intensive businesses and innovative sectors; implementing an international R&D strategy in partnership with academic and business communities; and introducing a single coherent strategy to promote the UK and the City of London as the world's leading centre for financial and business services.

Airbus

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had on the future of Airbus in the UK; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: Airbus is a great success story and a great contributor to the UK economy. DTI is in close touch with EADS and Airbus. Government remain a strong supporter of Airbus.

Wind Farms

John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received on the noise levels of wind farms.

Malcolm Wicks: The Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and his officials regularly receive representations with regard to noise from wind farms. These representations have been in the form of telephone calls, letters, emails or at meetings. They typically relate to planning applications being progressed by DTI or ETSU-97, "The Assessment and Rating of Noise from Wind farms2.

Companies Bill

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent estimate his Department has made of the cost to businesses  (a) on the Isle of Wight and  (b) in England arising from the Companies Bill following changes made to the Bill in Committee.

Margaret Hodge: I believe the Companies Bill will bring significant savings to companies in all areas throughout the UK.

Bank Charges

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what role the Office of Fair Trading has in challenging the practice of banks imposing excessive penalty charges when a customer exceeds overdraft limits or a direct debit or cheque are returned.

Ian McCartney: Under the Unfair Contract Terms in Consumer Contacts Regulations 1999, the Office of Fair Trading has a duty to consider any complaint it receives about unfair terms. Using its powers in this legislation, the Office of Fair Trading has carried out an investigation into the fairness of penalty charges for defaults in respect of credit cards and has stated that it believes that credit card default charges had been generally set at a significantly higher level than was considered fair and set a £12 threshold for OFT intervention unless there were exceptional business factors.
	The OFT is of the view that the broad principles do read across to the retail banking area and has decided to undertake further work on the application of these principles to bank current accounts. This fact-finding exercise is expected to take between three to six months, at which stage the OFT will consider whether a further detailed investigation of the fairness of individual bank default charges is needed.

CSR Settlement

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to reach agreement with the Treasury on the next comprehensive spending review settlement.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The comprehensive spending review is expected to conclude by summer 2007.

Departmental Staff

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people work within the  (a) aerospace and defence,  (b) automotive,  (c) biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and health care,  (d) broadcasting,  (e) chemicals,  (f) computer games,  (g) construction,  (h) digital content,  (i) electronics and IT services,  (j) environmental industries,  (k) information security,  (l) international ICT policy,  (m) manufacturing,  (n) marine,  (o) materials and engineering,  (p) postal services,  (q) publishing,  (r) retail,  (s) telecommunications and  (t) climate change project office sectors of his Department, broken down by grade.

Jim Fitzpatrick: holding answer 17 October 2006
	The requested figures are listed as follows as closely as is possible to the request. In certain cases, units are combined, as statistics are only available at this level.
	
		
			  (a) (n) Aerospace, marine and defence 
			   Number 
			 Band A 3 
			 Band B 3 
			 Band C 19 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (b) Automotive 
			   Number 
			 Band A 2 
			 Band B 4 
			 Band C 10 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (c) Bioscience 
			   Number 
			 Band A 1 
			 Band B 12 
			 Band C 7 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (d) Communication Networks 
			   Number 
			 Band A 4 
			 Band B 12 
			 Band C 15 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (e) Chemicals 
			   Number 
			 Band A 0 
			 Band B 1 
			 Band C 9 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (f) (h) (k) (q) (s) Broadcasting and Content 
			   Number 
			 Band A 3 
			 Band B 8 
			 Band C 21 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (g) Construction 
			   Number 
			 Band A 3 
			 Band B 11 
			 Band C 11 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (i) Electronic and IT services 
			   Number 
			 Band A 3 
			 Band B 5 
			 Band C 18 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (j) Environmental industries 
			   Number 
			 Band A 1 
			 Band B 2 
			 Band C 5 
			 SCS 0 
		
	
	
		
			  (l) Europe and International ICT policy 
			   Number 
			 Band A 3 
			 Band B 8 
			 Band C 7 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (m) (o) Materials, engineering and manufacturing 
			   Number 
			 Band A 1 
			 Band B 7 
			 Band C 15 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (p) Postal services 
			   Number 
			 Band A 2 
			 Band B 5 
			 Band C 8 
			 SCS 1 
		
	
	
		
			  (r) Retail 
			   Number 
			 Band A 1 
			 Band B 3 
			 Band C 4 
			 SCS 0 
		
	
	
		
			  (t) Climate change project office 
			   Number 
			 Band A 1 
			 Band B 5 
			 Band C 4 
			 SCS 1

Employment (York)

Hugh Bayley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what programmes and funding are available from his Department to assist York to attract new jobs.

Margaret Hodge: I believe the Redundancy Response Group set up by the Council with the support of other agencies is the right response to help people find new jobs.

Insolvency Service

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether additional  (a) financial and  (b) human resources have been provided to the Insolvency Service for the administration of the Bankruptcy Restriction Order regime since the introduction of the Enterprise Act 2002.

Jim Fitzpatrick: From 1 April 2004 additional resources have been provided to the Insolvency Service by way of its Enforcement programme which includes the application of the Bankruptcy Restriction Order (BRO) regime. Expenditure on BROs amounted to some £863,000 in 2004-05 and £5,990,000 in 2005-06. Insolvency Service staff carry out a range of duties and it would be disproportionately costly to seek to calculate the level of additional staff resource attributable to that expenditure.

Manufacturing

Tony Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what his priorities are with respect to ensuring a regional balance in investment in modern manufacturing.

Margaret Hodge: The Government are working with all stakeholders to implement our Manufacturing Strategy so that we maintain and grow a high value added modern manufacturing capacity in all regions.
	The DTI, together with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the Treasury, share a public sector agreement which seeks to improve the economic performance of all the regions of England, while in the longer term narrowing the gap in growth rates between the regions.
	We employ a range of levers, which include tax incentives, R and D investment, support and advice, grants and loans to support modern manufacturing in the regions.

Public Service Agreement Targets

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many public service agreement targets relating to better regulation of his Department are in operation.

Jim Fitzpatrick: There are no public service agreement (PSA) targets directly relating to better regulation of the Department. However better regulation is a top priority for the Department and is linked to a number of the department's PSA targets, such as PSA 1 (productivity), PSA 3 (competition and consumers), PSA 6 (enterprise) and PSA 10 (maximising potential in the workplace).

Temporary Agency Workers Directive

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to help make progress in the European Council on agreement on the draft Temporary Agency Workers Directive.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government continue to support the underlying principles of the draft directive and are committed to working with the European Commission to introduce appropriate rules to protect agency workers. It is not however for the UK to set the agenda in the EU. This is a matter for the EU presidency (currently held by Finland) and the European Commission. The DTI has made clear to its Finnish counterpart that it stands ready to assist the Finnish presidency in the matter of the draft directive.

Unfair Dismissal

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any legal challenges have been brought to the qualifying period for the right to claim unfair dismissal.

Jim Fitzpatrick: From 1985 until June 1999 the qualifying period for unfair dismissal was two years. The validity of this period was unsuccessfully challenged in "R v. Secretary of State for Employment, ex p Seymour-Smith and Perez". The Department is not aware of any further challenges to the qualifying period.

Unfair Dismissal

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will abolish the one-year qualifying period that exists before unfair dismissal may be claimed.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government believe that the one-year qualifying period for unfair dismissal achieves the right balance between fairness for employees and flexibility for employers. We reduced the qualifying period from two years in 1999.

Unfair Dismissal

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many cases of unfair dismissal were successful at tribunal in each of the last three years.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Employment Tribunals Service annual reports and accounts provides a breakdown of the outcome of cases by jurisdiction, summarised in the following table.
	
		
			  Outcome of unfair dismissal claims 2004-06 
			   Disposed of  Successful at Tribunal  Percentage 
			 2003-04 40,927 4,363 11 
			 2004-05 35,482 3,493 10 
			 2005-06 35,415 3,425 10 
			  Source:  ETS Annual Reports (Table 2), 2003-04 to 2005-06

TRANSPORT

Biofuels

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the use of sugar beet for biofuel production.

Stephen Ladyman: Biofuel produced from sugar beet can offer a number of environmental benefits, with the precise benefits depending on a range of factors, including the energy used to fertilise and process the crop. The Government will be introducing a renewable transport fuel obligation in April 2008 which will require all transport fuel suppliers to ensure that a set percentage of their total fuel sales is made up of biofuels or some other renewable transport fuel. This will create a major new market for biofuels in the UK, and it will be up to individual transport fuel suppliers to source their biofuels from whatever feedstock they deem most appropriate. From the outset the RTFO will include environmental assurance schemes to monitor the carbon savings achieved and the impact on the wider environment.

Driving Licences

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the number of driving licences which were lost or stolen in the Royal Mail postage system in 2005-06.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 239W.

MOT Tests

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when the increase in the price of an MOT test is planned to be introduced in 2006.

Stephen Ladyman: The statutory instrument to increase the MOT fees maxima has been laid in the House and, subject to parliamentary scrutiny, the new maximum fees will take effect from 7 November.

Railways

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent discussions he has had with the South Hampshire Rail Users Group; and if he will make a statement.

Tom Harris: Ministers have had no such discussions, although there has been correspondence between the group and departmental officials.

Railways

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the amount of spending on lineside clearance was in each of the past 15 years, broken down by region; and who was responsible for the clearing work in each region in each year by region.

Tom Harris: This is an operational matter for Network Rail, as the owner and operator of the national rail network. The hon. Member should contact Network Rail's chief executive at the following address for a response to his question.
	John Armitt
	Chief Executive
	Network Rail
	40 Melton Street
	London NW1 2EE

Translink (Bedfordshire)

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport when a decision will be taken on whether the Translink guided busway between Dunstable, Houghton Regis and Luton will be built; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: We expect to reach a decision within the next few weeks on whether to grant legal powers and planning permission for the proposed Translink guided busway. It will be for Luton borough council, as promoter of the scheme, to consider their next steps in the light of that decision.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people from Afghanistan have moved to the UK in each of the last five years; and how many have returned to Afghanistan in the same period.

Liam Byrne: Information on the number of Afghanistan nationals given leave to enter the United Kingdom, together with those returned voluntarily or following enforcement action, has only been available since 2004.
	The available information is in the following table:
	No data are available on the total number of persons who return to their country of origin.
	
		
			  Passengers given leave to enter the United Kingdom by purpose of journey: Afghanistan nationals, 2004 to 2005 
			  United Kingdom  Number of journeys 
			  Purpose of journey  2004  2005 
			 Visitors 1,870 1,700 
			 Students 75 80 
			 Work permit holders (inc. dependants) 15 25 
			 Admitted as a spouse or fiancé(e) 300 385 
			 Passengers in transit 265 285 
			 Passengers returning after a temporary absence 5,660 4,280 
			 Others given leave to enter 725 970 
			 Accepted for settlement on arrival 70 180 
			 Refugees, exceptional leave cases and their dependants(1) 10 10 
			 (1) Excluding such persons given temporary admission and grants made under the Family ILR exercise. Data rounded to three significant figures or the nearest five where appropriate, as such components may not sum to the totals shown. 
		
	
	
		
			  Removals, voluntary departures and assisted returns of nationals of Afghanistan, to Afghanistan, in 2004 and 2005( 1, 2) 
			   Number of persons 
			  United Kingdom  2004  2005 
			 Total persons removed 590 930 
			  Of whom:   
			 Removals and voluntary departures(3, 4, 5) 360 505 
			 Left under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes(6) 230 425 
			 (1) Figures rounded to the nearest five and may not sum due to rounding.  (2) Provisional figures.  (3) Removal figures in 2005 include 10 persons who it is established have left the UK without informing the immigration authorities.  (4) Includes persons refused entry at port and subsequently removed, enforced removals and persons departing voluntarily after enforcement action had been initiated against them.  (5) Excludes Assisted Voluntary Returns.  (6) Persons leaving under Assisted Voluntary Return Programmes run by the International Organization for Migration. May include some on-entry cases and some cases where enforcement action has been initiated.

Asylum Seekers

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum seekers and their dependants were being supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) in accommodation in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne on 1 June 2003,  (b) 2004,  (c) 2005 and  (d) 2006; how many were receiving subsistence only support on each date; how many failed asylum seekers and their dependents were receiving Article 4 support in Newcastle on each such date; and how many claimants of NASS support in Newcastle have had support withdrawn under section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration Act 2004 in each year since coming into force.

Liam Byrne: The number of asylum seekers supported by the National Asylum Support Service (NASS) is published on a quarterly and annual basis, broken down by Government office region and local authority. The latest publication covering the second quarter of 2006 is available on the Home Office Research Development and Statistics website at http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/immigration1.html.
	The number of failed asylum seekers and their dependants receiving Section 4 support is not available historically and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by looking at individual case files. However management information shows that there are currently 140 principal applicants and five dependants being supported under Section 4 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Please note that all figures are rounded to the nearest five.
	No cases in Newcastle have had their support terminated under section 9 of the 2004 Act, as section 9 was implemented by means of a pilot run in London, Leeds and Manchester.

Crime Reports

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to improve the quality of crime reports taken from the public; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: In 2002 the Home Office, in partnership with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), introduced the National Crime Recording Standard (NCRS), designed to improve the quality of crime recording in all forces. NCRS was developed following extensive research undertaken by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), and Her Majesty' Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), as well as research commissioned by the Home Office, which demonstrated wide-ranging inconsistencies in the way that forces were managing crime reports taken from the public. NCRS is based on a number of key principles including the requirement for forces to create incident reports for all incidents and to record these incidents as crimes if, on the balance of probabilities, the circumstances of the incident amount to a crime and if there is no credible evidence to the contrary. NCRS was designed to secure a better quality of service for the victims of crime, particularly around reporting, and has delivered significant improvements.
	The Home Office, through the Police and Crime Standards Directorate, has provided a strong lead in ensuring that forces are complying with NCRS. A three-year programme of annual external audit has been undertaken in partnership with the Audit Commission across a wide range of crime types, to ensure that forces are recording the crimes reported to them accurately and consistently. In 2003 the independent audit found that only 2 per cent. of forces were achieving a good or excellent level of performance for data quality. Self-improvement by forces, supported by the Home Office, have resulted in an outstanding improvement in performance. The Audit Commission's report Crime Recording 2005, published in June 2006 found that 81 per cent. of forces are now rated as either good or excellent, with no forces scoring poor. This represents a significant step forward in ensuring that the quality of reports taken from the public is robust and capable of supporting the investigation of crime. The Home Office remains committed to maintaining this high level of quality and fully intends to work with forces to build upon the achievements to date.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what costs have been incurred by the Government and paid by or on behalf of the independent assessor of claims for compensation for miscarriage of justice in respect of legal advice and litigation arising from assessments since 1976; and what the  (a) date and  (b) amount was of each such payment.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Costs incurred and paid by the Government on behalf of the independent assessor of compensation for miscarriages of justice, as a result of legal challenges to assessments, are available only as total figures for financial years. The first financial year in which such costs were incurred was 2002-03, when £9,551 was paid. In 2003-04 the figure was £16,907, in 2004-05 it was £14,149 in 2005-06 it was £15,929, and in the current financial year it is £2,686 to date.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what communications and discussions have taken place between the Government and the current independent assessor regarding changes in the scheme;
	(2)  what discussions he has had with the independent assessor relating to his planned changes in the scheme for compensation for victims of miscarriages of justice.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Officials and the independent assessor of compensation for miscarriages of justice meet regularly to discuss a range of issues, including the effectiveness of the existing compensation schemes. Meetings between the assessor and Ministers take place from time to time; such a meeting took place before the then Home Secretary announced changes to the compensation schemes on 19 April 2006 .

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the performance by the independent assessor of claims for compensation for miscarriages of justice of his functions has been assessed or monitored; and by whom.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The performance of the independent assessor of compensation for miscarriages of justice is monitored by the Miscarriages of Justice Team in the Better Trials Unit of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform. A monthly audit of cases is carried out and regular meetings are held with the assessor. It is also open to any applicant who is dissatisfied with the assessor's handling of their case to seek judicial review.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what policies and procedures his Department has regarding the expression of official sympathy, regret and apology in serious miscarriage of justice cases.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It must always be a matter for deep regret that any miscarriage of justice occurs, and I am, of course, sorry that sometimes people are affected in this way. I believe that the best remedy for a miscarriage of justice is for the wrongful conviction to be overturned by a court of law. The state will also, on application, pay compensation in recognition of the consequences of a miscarriage of justice, if the criteria in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are met.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department in which cases in which there has been a miscarriage of justice a meeting with the Government has been  (a) sought and  (b) granted by the Government since 1997; when and where such meetings have taken place; and who has represented the Government at such meetings.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Records are not necessarily kept centrally of requests for meetings. However, we are aware that the then Home Secretary met with the legal representatives and family members of the late Derek Bentley in November 1998, and that the then Minister of State met the hon. Member for Leicester East in December 2004 to discuss an individual case. Other meetings between Ministers and hon. Members may have taken place.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what education and training  (a) has been given to and  (b) is planned for (i) the current director and (ii) other staff of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform regarding the nature of the work of that office, with particular reference to (A) miscarriage of justice cases and (B) meeting the need of those who are relatives of victims who have died as a result of criminal conduct.

Gerry Sutcliffe: All staff within the Office for Criminal Justice Reform (OCJR) receive training appropriate to their role upon appointment. As part of her induction and in the course of day-to-day business, the chief executive of OCJR receives a large amount of briefing, both orally and in writing. This includes briefing on victims and miscarriages of justice. Members of the Miscarriages of Justice Team, in the Better Trials Unit of the OCJR, have received training on how to handle applications for compensation and all other aspects of the work for which they are responsible. Staff working directly with victims of crime undertake training with a trauma counsellor and have regular opportunities to work with victims' groups and to meet and listen to the experiences of actual victims. The training and personal development requirements of all OCJR staff are reviewed regularly as part of an individual's performance and appraisal.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what  (a) complaint and  (b) redress procedures exist to deal with concerns relating to resolving issues arising from miscarriage of justice cases.

Gerry Sutcliffe: People who consider they are the victim of a miscarriage of justice can, if they regard a particular party or body as being responsible, make a complaint in accordance with any established complaints procedure. For example, all police forces have such procedures in place, and the Independent Police Complaints Commission ensures that complaints are dealt with effectively. The IPCC sets standards for the way the police handle complaints and, when something has gone wrong, they help them learn lessons and improve the way they work. In terms of redress, people can lodge an appeal against conviction, and if that is unsuccessful they can, in certain circumstances, apply to the Criminal Cases Review Commission for a reinvestigation of their conviction and possible referral to the Court of Appeal. Compensation in respect of a miscarriage of justice is payable, on application, if the criteria of section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 are met. It is also open to people to pursue a civil claim in the courts.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what expertise and experience is available within his Department regarding  (a) the administration of estates,  (b) assessing compensation for personal injuries and miscarriages of justice and  (c) alternative dispute resolution.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Policy responsibility for the administration of estates rests with the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA). Officials in the Home Office liaise with officials in the DCA, as necessary. In appropriate cases, advice on the administration of estates could also be sought from independent counsel. The decision whether a person is eligible for compensation under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 is one for the Secretary of State. However, the assessment of the amount of compensation payable under section 133, and in cases within the discretionary scheme for compensation for miscarriages of justice which operated until 19 April 2006, is for the independent assessor. The current assessor is Lord Brennan, QC, who is experienced in the assessment of such claims. Home Office lawyers, the Treasury Solicitor and, as necessary, independent counsel advise Home Office Ministers about alternative dispute resolution.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many  (a) head-count and  (b) full-time equivalent officials are responsible for work relating to those who have suffered a miscarriage of justice, their relatives and campaigners, broken down by grade.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The following tables show the current head-count and full-time equivalent officials in the Miscarriages of Justice Team, in the Better Trials Unit of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, and the Criminal Cases Review Commission, a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department.
	
		
			  Criminal Cases Review Commission 
			  Grade  Head-count  FTE 
			 Directors and Comms 4 3.92 
			 Advisers 4 4.00 
			 Managers 7 6.61 
			 Group Leaders 7 6.62 
			 CRMs 36 32.29 
			 Caseworkers 4 3.61 
			 Case Admin 18 17.81 
			 Records Management 3 3.00 
			 Non-Case Admin 9 8.20 
			 Commissioners 13 10.5 
		
	
	
		
			  Miscarriages of Justice Team 
			  Grade  Head-count  FTE 
			 G6 1 1 
			 SEO 3 2.44 
			 EO 4 3.8 
			 AO 1 1

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the  (a) size,  (b) structure and  (c) remit is of the Miscarriages of Justice Team of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform; and how each has changed since its re-branding.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Miscarriages of Justice Team, in the Better Trials Unit of the Office for Criminal Justice Reform, comprises nine staff—one grade 6 who heads the team, three senior executive officers (two of whom are senior caseworkers and the third of whom is responsible for sponsorship issues relating to the Criminal Cases Review Commission), four executive officer caseworkers, and one administrative officer, who provides general support. The team's remit is to consider applications for compensation under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the remaining applications under the now abolished ex gratia scheme, to undertake the administrative procedures involved in processing the claims of successful applicants, to consider applications for remission or pardon under the Royal Prerogative of Mercy, to consider requests to refer cases of alleged wrongful conviction to the relevant Court of Appeal in the Channel Islands or Isle of Man, and to sponsor the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The size, structure and remit have not changed since the team was renamed.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what support and assistance is given by the Government to  (a) those who have suffered a miscarriage of justice as a result of being the victim of criminal conduct and  (b) those who have suffered a miscarriage of justice without there being any allegation of criminal conduct causing the miscarriage of justice.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Home Office pays compensation, on application, to anyone who has suffered a miscarriage of justice, if they meet the criteria set out in section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. It also sponsors a project at the Royal Courts of Justice, which is run by the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux and which provides an advice and assistance service to those who have been released from prison.

Miscarriages of Justice

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many miscarriages of justice there have been in capital cases which have resulted in a payment of compensation in the last 30 years; and in how many such cases claims for compensation are outstanding;
	(2)  if he will take steps to ensure that outstanding compensation claims in respect of miscarriages of justice in capital cases are expedited.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been four such cases, one of which remains outstanding. Eligibility under section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 was confirmed in that case on 6 October 2006. The assessor is currently considering a request for an interim award and the legal personal representative has been asked to make the necessary written submissions so that the assessor may determine the award. As soon as the appropriate submissions are received they will be passed to the assessor for his consideration.

Primary Carer Home Leave

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the evidential basis was for the decision that three nights and four days in every eight week period was the most appropriate period for primary carer home leave.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The maximum frequency and duration of child care resettlement leave were decided in consultation with prison operational managers across the estate, including those responsible for the care of women prisoners, who considered these parameters to be sufficient to enable prisoners to maintain their relationships with their children while maintaining public confidence in temporary release. The new policy provides a clear structure to the frequency and duration of temporary releases for child care purposes. Prisoners continue to have access to prison visits and the Special Purpose Licence is also available to prisoners to deal with emergencies relating to their parental duties, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria and passing a risk assessment.

Primary Carer Home Leave

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the basis was for the decision to change the eligibility for release on temporary licence from that of primary carer status to sole carer status under Prison Service Order 6300.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Feedback received from prisons and external consultees during the development of the new policy established that the needs of sole carers needed to be met more consistently across the estate while better addressing public confidence in temporary release. The new Childcare Resettlement Licence was specifically designed to ensure that sole carers would be able to maintain their relationships with their children through their sentence (provided they otherwise met the requirements for ROTL, including passing a risk assessment).
	The previous temporary release policy set out in Instruction to Governors 36/1995 defined a primary carer as "a prisoner who on release at the end of sentence will have the sole responsibility of caring for a child under the age of 16 years". The new policy broadens eligibility by allowing prisoners access to child care resettlement leave whether or not the prisoner will be released before the child's 16th birthday. Prisoners become ineligible for childcare resettlement leave only when their child attains the age of 16 years.

Prison Estate

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his statement of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 32, on the prison estate, how many category C prisoners he expects to be transferred from HMP Coldingley to open prisons.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prisoners can only be allocated to open conditions if they are categorised D, the lowest security category. Each prisoner will be subject to a rigorous and robust risk assessment covering a range of factors to ensure their suitability for open conditions. It is not possible to accurately predict the number of prisoners who will be sent to open prisons from Coldingley prison.

Prison Service

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the Prison Service London area uses the Great Westminster Clock as the logo on their letterheads rather than HM Prison Service logo; who authorised such use; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: London area office uses the Great Westminster Clock alongside the Prison Service logo on its paperwork, not instead of it. A number of groups within the Prison Service use their own logos alongside the Prison Service logo. The use of the clock was authorised by the area manager.

Prison Service

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent by  (a) HM Prison Service and  (b) his Department on investigations conducted by Mr. Ron Tasker in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Mr. Tasker has conducted a wide range of investigations in the last three years for various areas of the Home Office. To establish the exact costs of these investigations would involve disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an assessment of the outcomes for the women prisoners of Drake Hall and their children of  (a) Drake Hall's interpretation of the Prison Service Order (PSO) providing for the Primary Carer Home Leave and  (b) Drake Hall's implementation of PSO 6300 from January 2006.

Gerry Sutcliffe: In support of the Government's National Action Plan for Reducing Re-offending, the Prison Service recently published its "Strategy and resource guide for the resettlement of women prisoners". This highlights many factors that contribute to positive resettlement outcomes. Research specifically on the impact of temporary release on outcomes in prison has not been carried out and there are no plans to do so.
	However, the Prison Service recently requested feedback from female establishments, including Drake Hall, about the introduction of the new Childcare Resettlement licence; the responses were positive and suggest the new licence has not generally decreased levels of temporary release to prisoners. Some establishments have reported an increase in the use of temporary release to visit children—as was intended.

Prisons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will place in the Library the feedback from prison establishments collected during the development of the policy that established Prison Service Order 6300; and whether this feedback included direct feedback from prisoners who were  (a) primary and  (b) sole carers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not available in a form that can be easily placed in the Library and could be produced only at disproportionate cost. Prisoners were not asked directly to contribute to the development of Prison Service Order 6300 but a number of external agencies were asked for their views on how the previous ROTL policy could be improved. Those consulted included Action for Prisoners' Families, National Advisory Council for the Independent Monitoring Boards, Partners of Prisoners Group, HM Inspectorate of Prisons and NACRO.

Prisons

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many and what value of phone cards each prisoner receives free of charge annually.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Prisoners' telephone calls are now managed under the Pinphone system. Prisoners no longer purchase phonecards, they buy credits in units which are added to their personal Pinphone telephone account.
	On first reception into prison, a number of prisons provide prisoners with a short domestic call, at public expense. Additionally, public expense calls are offered to prisoners to resolve urgent domestic crises and also a five minute call to prisoners with close family living abroad who have not received a domestic visit during the preceding month.
	Detail of the value of the calls made on the Pinphone system cannot be disclosed as it is commercially sensitive. The value of calls made on official telephones is not recorded centrally.

Prisons

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what the incidence was of further offences whilst on release on temporary licence under the prison service order providing for primary carer home leave by  (a) women prisoners at Drake Hall under the Drake Hall Governor's interpretation allowing prisoners to spend up to five days in every 28-day period at home with their children and  (b) women prisoners from prisons other than HMP Drake Hall in the five years prior to 2006;
	(2)  what the incidence of further offences by women prisoners whilst on release on temporary licence for childcare resettlement leave has been following the introduction of Prison Service Order 6300 in January;
	(3)  what the incidence of further offences whilst on release on temporary licence for reasons other than childcare resettlement leave by  (a) female prisoners and  (b) male prisoners has been since January.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The information requested is not available.

Prisons

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what discussions his Department has had with  (a) the Prison Service and  (b) the National Offender Management Service about building a category C prison at Ford;
	(2)  what proposals he has received on the building of a category C prison at Ford in West Sussex.

Gerry Sutcliffe: I have received no proposals and there have been no discussions about the building of a category C prison at Ford.

Probation Service

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much has been spent in real terms on the Probation Service in each of the last 20 years; and what expenditure is planned for each of the next three years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: It is not possible to provide figures for the last 20 years. The resource funding to the National Probation Service from 2001-02 to 2007-08 expressed in real terms is as follows:
	
		
			   £ million 
			 2001-02 653 
			 2002-03 676 
			 2003-04 758 
			 2004-05 793 
			 2005-06 854 
			 2006-07 912 
			 2007-08 (1 )920 
			 (1 )indicative 
		
	
	The figures have been expressed in real terms by adjusting where possible for organisational change, technical accounting changes, and for inflation (using Treasury Discount factors where 2004-05 = 100).
	Planned funding is not yet available beyond 2007-08.

Victims of Crime (Code of Practice)

Edward O'Hara: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps his Department has taken under the code of practice for victims of crime.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The code of practice for victims of crime came into force on 3 April 2006. It sets out the standards of service, support and information to which victims are entitled. A number of Home Office agencies and other criminal justice agencies are required to provide services under the code of practice:
	Police forces—initial identification of all vulnerable or intimidated victims; keeping victims up to date on at least a monthly basis on progress in their case; informing all victims when a suspect is arrested, bailed or charged; referring victims to Victim Support.
	The Crown Prosecution Service—notifying victims about decisions not to bring any proceedings following receipt of the full evidential report and of any decision substantially to alter or drop any charge.
	Witness Care Units—meeting the minimum requirement for passing on all court results received from courts to victims.
	Her Majesty's Courts Service—ensuring court results get passed to Witness Care Units.
	Youth Offending Teams—contacting victims, where relevant, to discuss their involvement in a restorative justice intervention; keep victims informed about the progress of the intervention if they wish.
	The Prison Service—maintaining the telephone helpline for victims to call if they have unwanted contact from a prisoner.
	The Probation Service—meeting their statutory obligations to keep certain victims informed of the key stages in an offender's sentence and to find out if those victims wish to make representations about licence conditions.
	The Parole Board—must consider any representations that victims have offered to the Probation Service on the conditions to be included in the release licences and information regarding the victim that relates to the current risk presented by a prisoner in deciding whether or not to grant or recommend release.
	The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority—must respond to all correspondence regarding applications for compensation no later than 20 days from receipt of the letter; inform the applicant of their right to a review of their decision.
	The Criminal Injuries Compensation Appeals Panel—must respond to all correspondence relating to the appeal case no later than 20 days from receipt of the letter; ensure explanations for appeal decisions are available to applicants.
	The Criminal Cases Review Commission—must consider the extent of contact to be made with the victim and if they decide to contact the victim they should update them when the case in under review and if requested notify them of their decision.
	Vulnerable and intimidated victims are entitled to an enhanced level of service under the code. If victims feel they have not received the level of service to which they are entitled, they have a route of complaint to the agency concerned. If the response from the agency is not satisfactory, victims can complain to the parliamentary ombudsman via their local MP.
	The Office for Criminal Justice Reform provided support to Local Criminal Justice Boards in implementing the code during the months leading up to its introduction.

Yarl's Wood

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he plans to implement the recommendations made by HM Inspector of Prisons in her two reports upon Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre; and if he will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: In line with established practice and the protocol agreed with HM Chief Inspector of Prisons, our responses to these reports will take the form of action plans setting out which recommendations are accepted and the action that has been or will be taken to implement them. The two action plans are in the process of being finalised and, once agreed, will be submitted to HM Chief Inspector. Many of the recommendations contained in both reports have already been implemented, or are in the process of being so.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Aid

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the cost-effectiveness of British aid.

Hilary Benn: The effectiveness of British aid is assessed against the targets set out in DFID's public service agreement and in DFID's efficiency programme, which cover the period 2005-08. The most recent assessment is contained in the departmental report 2006, which was published in May. The next assessment will be contained in DFID's autumn performance report, which will be published in December. All DFID projects and programmes over £1 million in value are reviewed annually. Currently, 74 per cent. of those projects are judged to be largely or wholly meeting their objectives. DFID also has a framework for monitoring the effectiveness of our contributions to multilateral agencies, and a programme of independent evaluations of major policies and country programmes.

Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what the role is of the Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department (CHASE OT) within his Department; in which countries it has been operational in the last three years; how many staff are based in CHASE OT; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Conflict, Humanitarian and Security Department Operations Team (CHASE OT) is a team of expert consultants that supports DFID's humanitarian response to sudden and complex disasters.
	At present the team has 35 posts. In the last three years it has deployed staff and relief supplies to many countries, including Sudan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, India, Guatemala, El Salvador, Guyana, Pakistan, Lebanon, Russia, North Korea, Israel and the Palestinian Territories, Mali, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, the Caribbean, Haiti, Colombia, Afghanistan, Iran, USA, Morocco, Liberia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Iraq.
	The team helps DFID to respond rapidly and effectively to crises overseas, saving lives and alleviating suffering.

Databases (Security Breaches)

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by his Department occurred in each of the last five years; whether the breach resulted from internal or external sources in each case; how many records were compromised on each occasion; and what estimate was made of the total number of records accessible to the individuals concerned.

Gareth Thomas: There have been no known breaches of databases controlled by DFID in the last five years.

East Africa (Crop Failures)

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what assessment he has made of the humanitarian consequences of the crop failure in east African countries.

Hilary Benn: DFID has been one of the major supporters of the humanitarian response to the failure of the short season rains at the end of 2005. Since then we have committed over £56.2 million to meet the most urgent humanitarian needs. Additional DFID contributions have been made via our support to the UN-managed central emergency response fund (CERF) to which the UK is the largest contributor, and through the EC Humanitarian Office (ECHO).
	Prospects are generally quite good for the main 2006 season in east Africa. Crop production is, however, only one of the factors affecting humanitarian needs. While most communities demonstrate impressive resilience in the face of adverse conditions, some remain in need even when crop production is good. There is evidence that in many communities, notably in Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and Eritrea, acute malnutrition remains well above levels that are regarded as sufficient to trigger humanitarian interventions. We will continue to monitor these needs carefully and respond where necessary.
	In Eritrea, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda indications are that the main 2006 crop will be good but there is not yet any quantitative assessment. In Kenya production is estimated to be up 15 per cent. on last year, and the numbers of those estimated to require food aid has been reduced from 3.1 million to 2.4 million. Somalia main season production, normally 80 per cent. of total annual crop production, has been estimated to be 30 percent. down. In general however UN estimates of those in urgent humanitarian need in Somalia are down from 1.8 million to 1.4 million.

Luanda

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much aid the UK has given to Angola by  (a) direct and  (b) bilateral programmes; and what future he envisages for the Luanda Urban Poverty Programme.

Hilary Benn: Over the last five years, DFID has given over £35 million in aid to Angola through its bilateral programme. Statistics are not yet available for DFID's multilateral contributions for 2005, but from 2000-04, the UK's imputed share of multilateral funding to Angola (European Commission, World Bank and United Nations) was £46.5 million.
	DFID has given approximately £16.5 million to the Luanda Urban Poverty Programme (LUPP) since 1999. A recent DFID end-of-project evaluation of LUPP found that it has been a notable success. We anticipate that it will provide lessons for DFID and our partners on urban poverty and operating in post-conflict countries.
	In the context of a declining donor presence in Angola, we consider it very important that LUPP and similar programmes are able to have a sustained impact and reduce their reliance on external funding. We are pleased, therefore, that the Government of Angola has been seeking inputs from LUPP for its own work in urban poverty and service delivery. We are also pleased that LUPP partners will continue similar work in municipalities within and outside Luanda with the support of other partners, including the private sector (Chevron, Coca Cola and the diamond company Lazare Kaplan). To complement this, we have invited LUPP partners to submit a further proposal to DFID for our consideration, focused on their governance and influencing work. This should help capitalise on the gains made by LUPP to date, enable stronger links to be forged between the Government of Angola and civil society on urban poverty, and be manageable for DFID in light of our reduced administrative and financial resources for Angola.

Reproductive Health/HIV

Chris McCafferty: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what his Department's bilateral aid to  (a) reproductive health programmes and  (b) HIV programmes was in 2005-06, broken down into (i) project or sector aid, (ii) programme aid, (iii) technical co-operation, (iv) grants and other aid in kind, (v) humanitarian assistance and (vi) CDC investments.

Gareth Thomas: Figures for bilateral spending on HIV and reproductive health during 2005-06 are not available yet. They are being finalised and will be published in this year's "Statistics for International Development" report at the end of this month.

Somaliland

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many of his Department's personnel are based in Somaliland; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: There are currently no DFID personnel permanently based in Somaliland. When required, and security permits, DFID officials based in Nairobi and London travel to the region.

Somaliland

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how much bilateral development assistance has been provided by the UK to Somaliland in each of the last three years; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Many programmes and projects that DFID supports in Somalia benefit, but are not specific to, Somaliland. However, we estimate that about 30-40 per cent. of our bilateral development assistance to Somalia benefits Somaliland. The UK's total bilateral programme in Somalia in 2003-04 was £4.0 million; in 2004-05 it rose to £5.3 million; and in 2005-06 is provisionally recorded as £18.8 million. DFID's support to Somaliland is channelled through UN agencies and NGOs. The following are some examples:
	support to the Africa Educational Trust for an independent examination centre and for improved access to affordable forms of basic education;
	support to UN-HABITAT to strengthen and expand urban planning and capacity building of local councils;
	support to UNDP's Rule of Law and Security (RoLS) programme to upgrade Mandera police academy through building training facilities for high ranking officers and to establish women and children's desks in police stations to ensure broader access to justice for women and children; and
	support via an EC programme, implemented by Interpeace (formerly WSP-International), that provided comprehensive support to preparations for parliamentary elections in Somaliland in 2005. The programme played a major role in ensuring that Somaliland's elections were peaceful and democratic.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Animal Welfare

Mark Hunter: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what mechanisms are in place to ensure that where animals are abandoned as a result of their owners being jailed, the welfare of the animals themselves is safeguarded.

Ben Bradshaw: If an owner is sentenced to a term of imprisonment, it is his responsibility to make arrangements for the care of his animals.
	Under the Protection of Animals Act 1911, it is an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any domestic or captive animal. Additionally, it is an offence under the Abandonment of Animals Act 1960 to abandon any domestic or captive animal in circumstances likely to cause unnecessary suffering.
	In certain limited circumstances, abandoned animals which are suffering can be legally destroyed by the State Veterinary Service. In other cases, the RSPCA is often able to help.
	Under the Animal Welfare Bill, currently before Parliament, an inspector or constable may take an animal into possession if, in the opinion of a veterinary surgeon, the animal is suffering, or is likely to suffer if its circumstances do not change. This will provide a legal basis for acting in cases where animals have been abandoned for any reason and are likely to suffer as a result.

Central Science Laboratory (York)

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether he plans to change the status of the Central Science Laboratory in York; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: I refer the hon. Member to the written ministerial statement by my noble Friend, Lord Rooker, 20 June 2006. It is available at the following link on the DEFRA website:
	http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/ministers/statements/jr060620.htm

National Fallen Stock Company

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reason was for the reduction in the allocation of funding to the National Fallen Stock Company; and what plans he has to retain and enhance membership of the company.

Ben Bradshaw: There has been no reduction in funding to the National Fallen Stock Company. Government allocated £20 million for the scheme over a three-year period in order to help with initial pump priming. We have recently agreed to extend that funding for a further year, but it was always intended that central Government's contribution would reduce over time. The recent reduction in the percentage contribution to farmers' collection costs reflects this approach.
	Last year the Government commissioned an independent review of the National Fallen Stock Scheme to: examine the operation of the scheme to date; make recommendations for retaining and enhancing the membership of the scheme in the future; and identify the transitional steps needed to move towards a post-subsidy situation. The review team delivered its recommendations in April 2006. The Government are now working closely with the National Fallen Stock Company to develop appropriate responses. We aim to publish these later this year.

North Sea Fisheries

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent French fishing vessels from causing damage to the property of British fishermen off the coast near Bridlington and Flamborough Head.

Ben Bradshaw: French trawlers can legitimately operate outside the 12-mile limit off the Yorkshire coast. They also have limited access rights in the 6-12 mile area between Flamborough Head and Spurn Point to fish for herring. The activities of these vessels have been closely monitored by the Marine Fisheries Agency (MFA). A French trawler was successfully prosecuted on 7 July in Grimsby for fishing illegally inside the 12-mile limit and total fines and costs amounted to £14,750. Since this incident, no further evidence of subsequent incursions within the 12-mile limit have been found.
	The MFA monitors fishing activity through a programme of inspections on land and at sea, using the Royal Navy's Fishery Protection Squadron. Aerial surveillance, combined with a satellite Vessel Monitoring System, precisely records the position of all vessels over 15m in length, including any French vessels. In recent weeks, approximately 80 per cent. of French vessels operating off the Yorkshire coast have been inspected when their catches are being landed.
	The MFA will be hosting a meeting between members of the UK and French fishing industries in London on 31 October. This will help to develop a dialogue about practical ways of minimising interference with each others' fishing operations, and reduce the risk of damage to fishing gear.

Shellfish

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans he has to change the legal size limit for catching lobsters and crabs in UK waters; what consultations are taking place; with whom; and if he will make a statement.

Ben Bradshaw: A consultation on the legal size limit for lobsters is currently under way, which proposes to increase the minimum landing size of lobsters from 87mm to 90mm carapace length and asks for views as to whether this should be in one stage or incremental steps. It also asks for views on additional measures such as setting a maximum landing size.
	The 11-page consultation document is available on the DEFRA website, as is a list of consultees, which includes local authorities, fishermen's associations and universities: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/lobster
	The closing date for the consultation is 17 November 2006.
	Most English crab stocks are currently assessed as being fished sustainably, but there are growing concerns that they are at risk of being exploited beyond sustainable limits if fishing effort continues to increase. DEFRA will shortly be publishing a discussion paper on possibilities for controlling effort on fishing for brown crabs. An increase in the European Union minimum landing size for brown crabs is one of the possible measures upon which the Department is inviting comments before formulating more specific proposals.

Water Resource Plans

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures he is taking to encourage standardisation of water resource plans in the south-east.

Ian Pearson: All water companies in the south-east currently have voluntary water resources management plans which were produced using guidelines prepared by the Environment Agency. In April 2007 it is proposed to make water resources management plans a statutory requirement, using powers in the Water Act 2003. All water companies' statutory water resources management plans, including those for water companies in the south-east, will be required to include standard information specified in both primary legislation and in directions. The Environment Agency's water resource planning guidelines will be updated and provide additional guidance.

SCOTLAND

Act of Union

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his Department plans to mark the 300th anniversary of the Act of Union between Scotland and England.

David Cairns: As announced by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 15 June 2006,  Official Report, column 67WS, the anniversary will be marked by the issuing of a commemorative two-pound coin.
	The Scotland Office, in liaison with other Departments, is developing plans to mark the anniversary in a number of ways.

Human Trafficking

Peter Bone: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the extent of human trafficking into Scotland for the purpose of the sex trade.

David Cairns: The Home Office and Scottish Executive carried out a joint consultation earlier this year on proposals for an action plan on trafficking. The results of that consultation together with the views expressed in the Joint Committee on Human Rights report on human trafficking published last week, will be taken into account in framing the UK strategy which the Government expect to finalise later this year. I visited in June this year a counter-trafficking project co-ordinated by Glasgow city council which offers victims counselling and support to help re-establish their lives.

Ministerial Office (Dover House)

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the ministerial office in Dover House is  (a) occupied and  (b) used by his Department.

David Cairns: Dover House contains a number of ministerial offices, all of which are in regular use. The principal rooms are used by Scotland Office Ministers and the Advocate General for Scotland; other rooms are currently used by the Leader and the Deputy Leader of the House of Commons and by visiting Ministers of the Scottish Executive.

Offshore Northern Seas Conference

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what  (a) new initiatives and  (b) future meetings are to take place further to the Minister of State attending the Offshore Northern Seas Conference in August 2006.

David Cairns: holding answer 13 September 2006
	My hon. Friend, the Minister for Energy, and I shared UK ministerial representation at the ONS Conference in Stavanger. I was particularly pleased to see so many Scottish-based enterprises participating in this major international event. PILOT, the Government/Industry taskforce, will take a continuing interest in aspects of follow-up activity from ONS, which will include:
	The Minister for Energy and the Norwegian Minister for Petroleum and Energy will attend the January 2007 meeting of the North Sea Rim Task Force on Carbon Capture and Storage where they expect to hear the conclusions from work on future collaboration.
	Ongoing bilateral talks with the Norwegian Government at official level and with the industry on additional supplies of gas into the UK.
	Current work on supply chain opportunities will be extended to include launch of a second phase cross-border business-to-business mentoring scheme.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Braithwaite Report

Frank Doran: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission what plans the Commission has for a further review of the management of the House of Commons Service as recommended in the Braithwaite report in 1999.

Nick Harvey: The Commission has appointed Sir Kevin Tebbit, KCB to review the implementation of the Braithwaite report on the management and services of the House. The terms of reference of the review are:
	To review the implementation of the recommendations of the report of Mr. Michael Braithwaite (HC 745, 1998-99) on the management and services of the House of Commons and his subsequent report of July 2000 on the Serjeant at Arms' Department, and in particular to assess:
	whether the expected benefits have been realised;
	what further actions are required for the House Service to achieve the objectives laid down in the Outline Strategic Plan for the House of Commons Administration 2006-11;
	whether, in particular, the organisational and staffing arrangements currently in place are adequate to realise the objectives laid down in the Resolution of the House of 26 January 2005 relating to Connecting Parliament with the Public.
	Sir Kevin will start work later this month and is expected to report to the Commission by the middle of next year. He will be consulting widely among Members and staff.

Roof Terrace

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission when the Roof Terrace will be opened for use by hon. Members and staff.

Nick Harvey: The Roof Terrace has been closed on grounds of health and safety. An assessment of the remedial action required is currently taking place and only when this action has been identified will it be possible to say when the terrace will reopen. Every effort will be made to do so as soon as possible.

Roof Terrace

Chris Ruane: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if he will place in the Library the results of the most recent health and safety audit of the Roof Terrace.

Nick Harvey: Yes.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Aimhigher Campaign

Stephen Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has spent on advertising for the Aimhigher campaign in each year since its inception.

Bill Rammell: The Aimhigher campaign was launched in 2001 with the aim of raising the aspirations of young people and their parents so that going on to higher education became a real option for them. Since its launch, the Department has spent the following on advertising:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2001-02 1,750,000 
			 2002-03 2,650,000 
			 2003-04 3,400,000 
		
	
	Under the Aimhigher Student Finance banner, the Department has also run advertising to raise awareness and understanding about the financial help available for students entering higher education. Since its launch in 2003, the Department has spent the following on advertising:
	
		
			  £ 
			 2003-04 790,000 
			 2004-05 1,100,000 
			 2005-06 2,500,000

Apprenticeships

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what support his Department provides for apprenticeships and training in construction and related industries.

Phil Hope: holding answer 17 October 2006
	At the end of 2005 there were 24,250 young people participating in apprenticeships (apprenticeships and advanced apprenticeships) in construction in England. The funding for construction apprentices from the Learning and Skills Council for 2005/06 was £62,999,222.

Correspondence

Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when he will reply to the letter of 27 June 2006 from the right hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton with regards to Dr. S. Ala-ud-din.

Bill Rammell: I refer the right hon. Member to the reply given on 18 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1223W.

Data Protection Act

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department issues to schools on their duties under the Data Protection Act 1998.

Parmjit Dhanda: Guidance to the law on data processing and sharing is available for schools and others on the Department's Teachernet website at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/atoz/d/data processing/.

Databases (Security Breaches)

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by his Department occurred in each of the last five years; whether the breach resulted from internal or external sources in each case; how many records were compromised on each occasion; and what estimate was made of the total number of records accessible to the individuals concerned.

Parmjit Dhanda: The number of cases of computer hacking detected in the Department for Education and Skills was nil in 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2003-04. There was one case of computer hacking in 2004-05 which was perpetrated by an outsider. There have been no other cases since then.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much his Department has spent on taxis in the last 12 months.

Parmjit Dhanda: Details of expenditure on taxis incurred by the Department over the last 12 months are set out as follows:
	1 October 2005 to 30 September 2006—£217,464.15
	The expenditure is based on staff travel claims and approved invoices received from taxi companies paid via the Department's Integrated Financial Information System.
	The Department's Integrated Financial Information System for staff travel was a staged introduction; full implementation was not completed until April 2006. Claims made prior to the introduction of the online system are not included in these figures nor is expenditure for taxi fares incurred abroad or claims by staff that do not have access to the online system. To extract this information would involve disproportionate cost.

Discretionary Barring

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many cases have been considered by the advisory panel on discretionary barring led by Sir Roger Singleton since its establishment in January.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Singleton panel of independent experts has considered 1,317 cases since its establishment.

Hampton Review

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what input  (a) his Department and  (b) its (i) agencies and (ii) non-departmental public bodies had into the Hampton Review and its report, "Reducing Administrative Burdens: Effective Inspection and Enforcement".

Parmjit Dhanda: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 280W.

Learning Disabled

Daniel Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps the Government have taken to ensure his Department is working effectively with  (a) the Department of Health,  (b) the Department for Communities and Local Government and (c) local authorities to ensure that adequate facilities for the learning disabled are provided.

Parmjit Dhanda: The Department is working closely with the Department of Health and the Department of Work and Pensions on a project to improve outcomes for learners with learning difficulties and/or disabilities including the provision of adequate facilities. As the project progresses it is planned to include the Department for Communities and Local Government and local authorities in the scope of the work.

Nursery Education

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment he has made of the likely impact of the Government's 10-year strategy for funding nursery education on the number of places available; and if he will make a statement.

Beverley Hughes: The Government's 10-year child care strategy sets out our commitments: to extend the free early education entitlement to 38 weeks a year across all settings; to increase the number of free hours each week from 12.5 to 15; and to offer them more flexibly than at present. Around £3 billion per year is provided to local authorities to fund the free entitlement.
	The first of those changes was implemented this year with flexibilities to help those providers not able to extend their provision to 38 weeks. Additional funding of £82 million in each of financial years 2006-07 and 2007-08 has been made available to LAs to support the extension to the free entitlement in private, voluntary and independent settings.
	We are testing the extension to 15 hours, delivered more flexibly, in 20 local authorities next year, with a view to a full roll-out by 2010. We will conduct a full assessment of impact in the light of findings from the Pathfinders.
	We expect there to continue to be sufficient places available to deliver the free early education entitlement to all three and four-year-olds. The closure rate of child care places has fallen significantly since the introduction of the 10-year strategy, indicating that the Government's policy of refocusing local authority budgets towards supporting sustainability, rather than creating new places, is working.

Student Finances

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the expected cost is to the Exchequer per £100 of student loan advanced; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: For maintenance loans, we estimate that for every £100 of loan advanced in FY2006-07, the cost to the Exchequer is £21. For fee loans, we estimate that for every £100 of loan advanced in FY2006-07, the cost to the Exchequer is £33. These estimates are based on the current RAB charges(1) issued in my written statement on the costs of student finance on 10 November 2005.
	(1)The RAB charge is an estimate of the percentage of the face value of loans issued in a given year which reflects the resource cost over the expected life of the loan to the Government of making the loans.

Student Finances

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will estimate the total value of student loans advanced for the additional top-up fee over the standard fee; what the expected cost of such loans is to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: The table shows planned total expenditure on student loans for fees, based on current policies, in FYs 2006-07 and 2007-08. The figures show total expenditure on loans for fees, not just the addition over the previous fee.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  2006-07  2007-08 
			 Cash/face value of loans—plans (1) 450 1,130 
			 Resource cost to Exchequer, based on 33 per cent. RAB charge—plans (1,2,3) 150 370 
			 (1) Figures on an England and Wales basis, rounded to the nearest £10 million. Cash and resource figures may not correspond exactly due to rounding. (2) The RAB charge is an estimate of the percentage of the face value of loans issued in a given year which reflects the resource cost over the expected life of the loan to the Government of making the loans. (3) Figures taken from Departmental Annual Report 2006. 
		
	
	Steady state costs were given in my written statement on 10 November 2005.

Student Finances

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many higher education institutions charged the full £3,000 fee in 2006; and what percentage of students took out fee loans.

Bill Rammell: There are currently 117 higher education institutions in academic year 2006/07 which have an access agreement with the Office for Fair Access (OFFA) to charge up to £3,000, and who are charging £3,000. These institutions are:
	Anglia Ruskin University
	Arts Institute at Bournemouth
	Aston University
	Bath Spa University
	Birmingham College of Food, Tourism and Creative Studies
	Bishop Grosseteste University College
	Bournemouth University
	Brunel University
	Buckingham Chilterns University College
	Canterbury Christ Church University
	Central School of Speech and Drama
	City University, London
	College of St. Mark and St. John
	Conservatoire for Dance and Drama
	Courtauld Institute of the Arts
	Coventry University
	Cumbria Institute of the Arts
	Dartington College of Arts
	De Montfort University
	Edge Hill University
	Goldsmiths College
	Guildhall School of Music and Drama
	Harper Adams University College
	Heythrop College, University of London
	Imperial College London
	Institute of Education
	Keele University
	Kings College London
	Kingston University
	Lancaster University
	Leeds College of Music
	Liverpool Hope University
	Liverpool John Moores University
	London Metropolitan University
	London School of Economics and Political Science
	London South Bank University
	Loughborough University
	Manchester Metropolitan University
	Middlesex University
	Newman College of Higher Education
	Norwich School of Art and Design
	Nottingham Trent University
	Oxford Brookes University
	Queen Mary, University of London
	Ravensbourne College of Design and Communication
	Roehampton University
	Rose Bruford College
	Royal Academy of Music
	Royal Agricultural College
	Royal College of Music
	Royal Holloway, University of London
	Royal Northern College of Music
	Royal Veterinary College
	School of Oriental and African Studies
	School of Pharmacy
	Sheffield Hallam University
	Southampton Solent University
	St. Georges Hospital Medical School
	St. Martins College
	St. Marys College
	Staffordshire University
	Trinity Laban
	University College Falmouth
	University College for the Creative Arts
	University College London
	University of Bath
	University of Birmingham
	University of Bolton
	University of Bradford
	University of Brighton
	University of Bristol
	University of Cambridge
	University of Central England
	University of Central Lancashire
	University of Chester
	University of Chichester
	University of Derby
	University of Durham
	University of East Anglia
	University of East London
	University of Essex
	University of Exeter
	University of Gloucestershire
	University of Greenwich
	University of Hertfordshire
	University of Huddersfield
	University of Hull
	University of Kent
	University of Leeds
	University of Leicester
	University of Lincoln
	University of Liverpool
	University of Luton
	University of Manchester
	University of Newcastle upon Tyne
	University of Northampton
	University of Northumbria at Newcastle
	University of Nottingham
	University of Oxford
	University of Plymouth
	University of Portsmouth
	University of Reading
	University of Salford
	University of Sheffield
	University of Southampton
	University of Sunderland
	University of Surrey
	University of Sussex
	University of Teeside
	University of the Arts London
	University of the West of England, Bristol
	University of Warwick
	University of Westminster
	University of Winchester
	University of Wolverhampton
	University of Worcester
	Writtle College
	 Source:
	OFFA, Student Loans Company
	Information on the number of tuition fee loans taken out will be published in a statistical first release in November 2006 and data are restricted until published.

Student Finances

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what his estimate is of the total annual cost of the maintenance grant payable to poorer students in each year from 2003-04 to 2008-09; and if he will make a statement.

Bill Rammell: Actual and planned expenditure on maintenance grants payable to poorer students from FY 2003-04 in England and Wales are as follows:
	
		
			  Financial year  Actual/plans  Expenditure on maintenance grants (£ million) 
			 2003-04(1) — 0 
			 2004-05(2) Actual 59 
			 2005-06(2) Actual 151 
			 2006-07(3) Plans 374 
			 2007-08(3) Plans 607 
			 (1) There was no expenditure in FY 2003-04 as the Higher Education Grant was not introduced until September 2004. (2) Actual expenditure on the Higher Education Grant in England and Wales. (3) Planned expenditure on the Higher Education Grant, the Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant in England and Wales. 
		
	
	The Higher Education Grant was introduced in September 2004, and the new Maintenance Grant and Special Support Grant in September 2006. The expenditure data cover all such grants available for poorer students. Data do not include other grants and allowances paid to students in particular circumstances, such as lone parents and students with disabilities. Planned expenditure for FY 2008-09 is not available as it falls outside the current Spending Review allocation.

University Grants

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate he has made of the average amount of state funding given to students from low-income families during a three-year degree course in each of the last five years.

Bill Rammell: The new student support system for students domiciled in England provides extra help for students from low income families, particularly through a mean-tested maintenance grant of up to £2,700. In 2006/07, students with household earnings of £17,500 or less would be entitled to the maximum amount of support.
	The table shows the maximum amount of support available annually to new English students entering higher education in each of the last five years. All institutions of higher education also offer a range of bursaries, which are designed to support participation by students from low income families. In 2006/07, all students receiving the maximum maintenance grant will also receive a minimum bursary of £300 per year.
	
		
			  £ 
			  Academic year( 1)  Fee remission grant  Tuition fee loan  Maintenance loan( 2)  Maintenance grant( 3,4) 
			 2002/03 1,100 n/a 3,905 0 
			 2003/04 1,125 n/a 4,000 0 
			 2004/05 1,150 n/a 4,095 1,000 
			 2005/06 1,175 n/a 4,195 1,000 
			 2006/07 (5)n/a (6)3,000 (7)3,205 2,700 
			 (1) In 2002/03 students whose household income was less than £20,480 would receive the full means-tested support available; this value was £20,970 in 2003/04. In 2004/05 following the introduction of the HE grant, students would receive full means-tested support if their household income was £15,200 or less. This rose to £15,580 in 2005/06 and £17,500 in 2006/07.  (2) Value of loan is based on the rate of loan paid to students studying outside London, and living away from their parents' home.  (3) The higher education grant was introduced in 2004/05 to help students from lower income backgrounds with the cost of HE. In 2006/07, a new maintenance grant of up to £2,700 was introduced.  (4) Data do not include numbers receiving supplementary grants and allowances eg students with disabilities, students with dependents, single parent students, those incurring certain travel costs and those who have recently left care.  (5) In 2006/07, students can receive a tuition fee loan to cover the cost of their course fees.  (6) The amount of tuition fee loan available is equivalent to the tuition fees charged, up to a maximum of £3,000.  (7) The maximum rate of loan is £4,405. This is reduced pro rata for the first £1,200 of the maintenance grant received. 
		
	
	The Student Income and Expenditure Survey is a regular study on students' income, expenditure, borrowing and debt. The most recent survey, carried out in 2004/05, shows that for full time, English domiciled dependent students who are in receipt of a higher education grant and hence have a household income of £15,200 or less, the mean level of student support received was £5,925. For students from high income families, who are those deemed to be paying full tuition fees ie whose household income is £31,973 or more, the mean level of student support received was £2,577. Both figures include student loans, the higher education grant, fee remission grants as well as supplementary grants and allowances for students in particular circumstances. They represent the average level of support for one year, not the duration of the course. The next survey is planned for the 2007/08 academic year.
	In addition to the financial support given directly to students, the Higher Education Funding Council for England's allocation of teaching grant, paid to support teaching and learning, equates to an average £3,820 per student in HE.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Digital Television

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps she is taking to ensure that digital television coverage will be universal and reliable when analogue television broadcasting is discontinued.

Shaun Woodward: The vast majority of households can receive digital TV services via digital satellite, terrestrial, cable or Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL).
	Three quarters of UK households are currently able to receive digital terrestrial television. From switchover, coverage of digital terrestrial television will be increased to substantially match that currently achieved by analogue services.

Hotel Accommodation

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what plans the Government have to introduce compulsory registration of hotel and bed and breakfast accommodation in England.

Shaun Woodward: The Government have no plans to introduce a statutory accommodation registration scheme. The four voluntary inspection and grading schemes run by VisitBritain, VisitScotland, VisitWales, and the Automobile Association have been standardised and greatly improved following extensive work by this Department and VisitBritain with the tourism industry.
	The Tourism Olympic Strategy consultation makes clear that the voluntary schemes will form the basis of the programme for improving the quality of the UK tourism product. This will be necessary if the industry is to make the most of the opportunity of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The consultation ends on 17 November.

Hotel Accommodation

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many  (a) hostels,  (b) bed and breakfast establishments and  (c) bed spaces were registered in Bournemouth in 2005.

Shaun Woodward: DCMS does not maintain central records of visitor accommodation providers. The total numbers of visitor accommodation establishments and bed spaces in Bournemouth for 1995, 2001, and 2006 are in my answer of 12 October 2006,  Official Report, column 814W. This information was provided by Bournemouth borough council, which has advised my Department that it does not maintain separate records of hostels or bed and breakfast establishments.

Licensing Act

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 956-7W, on the Licensing Act, what meetings the Minister for Creative Industries and Tourism has held since 24 May with representatives of  (a) the licensing trade,  (b) local authorities,  (c) residents' groups,  (d) magistrates,  (e) police officers,  (f) village hall associations,  (g) sports clubs,  (h) performing arts, (i) the tourism industry, (j) fire services and (k) the retail sector to discuss the Licensing Act 2003 and related legislation; and if she will make a statement.

Shaun Woodward: The answer of 24 July wrongly attributed a meeting with stakeholders as taking place on 24 May. This happened on 6 June. Since then the following meetings have taken place to discuss the Licensing Act.
	 12 July:
	Historic Houses Association
	 9 October:
	Asda, Sainsbury's, Retail of Alcohol Standards Group, Morrisons, Co-op, United Co-op, Somerfield, Tesco, Wine and Spirits Trade Association, British Retail Consortium, Association of Convenience Stores, Musgrave, Budgens, Londis, Association of Chief Police Officers, Trading Standards Institute, LACORS, Home Office and DCMS.
	 16 October:
	Alcohol Concern
	 18 October:
	Better Regulation Commission
	I wrote to representatives of several key stakeholder organisations in September inviting them to a meeting which is scheduled for 26 October to discuss the Licensing Act. The following organisations are scheduled to attend:
	Home Office; Department for Communities and Local Government; Association of Chief Police Officers; LACORS; LGA; British Retail Consortium; British Beer and Pub Association; Mitchells and Butlers plc; Nexum Leisure; Central Council for Physical Recreation; and Action with Communities in Rural England.

Ministerial Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on how many occasions she has visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

David Lammy: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has, during the last 12 months, visited Wales once, Scotland twice but not Northern Ireland.

Obscene Material

Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will assess the merits of introducing a classification system for obscene materials for print media mirroring that in place for classifying film materials.

Shaun Woodward: There is no classification system in place for obscene material in films. Both films and printed material are covered by the Obscene Publications Act 1957. Ultimately it is a matter for the courts to determine what exactly is covered, but obscene material in films or in newspapers is illegal, and could not appear in a classified film, or in any publication. We have no proposals to introduce a classification scheme for newspapers and magazines; because of the extremely tight production deadlines involved, it would quite simply not be possible to factor in the time required for scrutiny. DCMS officials continue to monitor the situation for any evidence of a significant problem that might require Government intervention.

Ofcom

Edward Vaizey: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many people were interviewed for the job of chief executive of Ofcom.

Tessa Jowell: Under the terms of the Office of Communications Act 2002, the chief executive of Ofcom is appointed by the Ofcom board, subject to approval by the Secretaries of State. I am informed that Ofcom's selection panel invited six candidates for interview, two of whom later withdrew their applications, so four candidates were interviewed. The selection process was conducted by Ofcom in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA) Code of Practice.

Olympic Games

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the likely effect of the 2012 Olympic Games on Surrey.

Richard Caborn: The Government are determined that the whole of the UK, including Surrey, can contribute to and benefit from the 2012 Olympic games and Paralympic games.
	In order to maximise the potential benefits arising from the games across the UK, a Nations and Regions Group (NRG), comprising representatives from every nation and region, has been established. The south east is represented by Mary McAnally, Chair of the South East Regional Sports Board and board member of the Regional Development Agency.
	In April 2006 the South East England Development Agency commissioned Locum Consulting to prepare a preliminary review of the potential impacts arising from the games, Review of the Impacts of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic games on the South East Region. A copy of the report is available online at the following web address:
	http://www.seeda.co. uk/Work_in_the_Region/2012_Games/
	The report concluded that potential areas of benefit would include business and inward investment opportunities, the hosting of pre-games training camps, the four-year cultural festival prior to the games, volunteering opportunities, and tourism.

Premises Licence/Temporary Events Notice

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what guidance she has produced on whether an  (a) premises licence and  (b) temporary events notice is required when a private organisation or individual holding a private not-for- profit event uses commercial caterers who supply alcohol.

Shaun Woodward: DCMS officials have provided advice in response to individual inquiries about similar circumstances.
	A premises licence or temporary event notice will be needed wherever any "sales by retail" of alcohol take place. Whether an event is held privately or for profit is not relevant. If alcohol was given away for free at a private event such as a wedding it would not need a licence. However, where there is a "cash bar", or where a ticket is sold for a private event and alcohol is provided as a result of the purchase of the ticket, then a licence would be required. A caterer selling alcohol will need a premises licence for the place where the sales take place.
	If event organisers are not sure whether an authorisation is required, they should contact their licensing authority (usually the local authority). However, we are currently drawing up guidance to assist people who are organising community based activities and small fundraising events and we will look at including guidance on this kind of scenario.

Sustainable Development Strategy

Phil Willis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on her Department's sustainable development strategy.

Shaun Woodward: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport followed publication of a sustainable development strategy two years ago with an action plan published this year. We will report formally against the four main target areas (Policy, Estates Management, Communication and the Olympic Games) next spring. The Department is making good use of the opportunities afforded by the refurbishment of its main building to reduce carbon emissions. We are installing energy saving equipment and educating staff in good energy management practice. DCMS is also actively encouraging all its associated non-departmental public bodies, which include the national museums and galleries, the lottery distributors and the national sports bodies, to produce sustainable development action plans and to use their influence to raise public awareness and change patterns of behaviour.

Theatre Museum

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department made a submission to the recent Victoria and Albert Museum consultation on the Theatre Museum; and if she will place in the Library a copy of the submission.

David Lammy: No submission was made by DCMS to the recent Victoria and Albert consultation on the Theatre Museum.

PRIME MINISTER

Bilderberg Group

Norman Baker: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 12 October 2006,  Official Report, column 862W, on the Bilderberg Group, if he will provide the information requested in respect of himself since 1997.

Tony Blair: I have not attended any such meetings.

Engagements

Michael Ancram: To ask the Prime Minister how many times he has visited members of the British armed forces who have been wounded either in Afghanistan or Iraq in hospital since 2001; what the dates were of these visits; and which hospitals he visited.

Tony Blair: I refer the right hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Forest of Dean (Mr. Harper) on 27 February 2006,  Official Report, column 36W.

Ministerial Code

Andrew Turner: To ask the Prime Minister pursuant to the answer of 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 5W, on the Ministerial Code, what information relating to the number of complaints received may be divined from section 1 of the Ministerial Code; what his policy is on  (a) recording and  (b) publishing the number of complaints received alleging possible breaches of the code; for what reason his answer did not contain the information sought; and which paragraph of section 1 of the code refers to the process for handling alleged breaches.

Tony Blair: As section 1.4 of the Ministerial Code makes clear, I do not expect to comment on every allegation brought to my attention.

Ministerial Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Prime Minister on how many occasions he has visited  (a) Scotland,  (b) Wales and  (c) Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 4W.

Official Residences

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Prime Minister what the guidelines are on  (a) Ministers and  (b) relatives of Ministers using official ministerial residences for commercial purposes.

Tony Blair: Guidance on the use of official residences is set out in the Ministerial Code.

Queen's Speech

Diane Abbott: To ask the Prime Minister if he will include a Bill on climate change in the Queen's Speech.

Tony Blair: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Conwy (Mrs. Williams) at Prime Minister's Questions on 11 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 299-300.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

R v. Lindis Percy (Prosecution Costs)

Norman Baker: To ask the Solicitor-General how much the prosecution in the case of R  v Lindis Percy at Harrogate Magistrates Court on 18, 19 and 21 September 2006 is estimated to have cost in public funds.

Mike O'Brien: Ms Percy appeared before Harrogate magistrates court on 18, 19 and 21 September 2006, facing trial on two separate charges of obstructing the highway at RAF Menwith Hill. She was convicted on both charges and was ordered to contribute £150 towards the cost of the prosecution.
	It is estimated that the prosecution costs in this case were in the region of £600 (excluding VAT). This figure comprises the advocate's costs. It does not include witness costs, as all witnesses were police witnesses. Neither does this figure include staff or running costs, which are attributable to the operation of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) as a whole and cannot be assessed on an individual case basis. I am also unable to comment on police, court and defence costs as these figures are not kept by the CPS (which is solely responsible for the prosecution). Prosecutions are not about cost, but justice.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Cancer Services

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the take-up is of  (a) breast and  (b) cervical cancer screening in rural areas by women in their (i) 50s and (ii) 70s; and if he will make a statement.

Paul Goggins: Information is not available in the form requested as data cannot be disaggregated any lower than board level. Data are provided for the three board areas, which include mainly rural areas.
	Data are not available regarding breast screening uptake rates for women in their 50s. However, the uptake rate for breast screening for women in rural areas in the 50-64 age group is detailed in the table:
	
		
			  HSS board breast screening uptake rate 
			   Percentage 
			 Northern HSS Board 79.3 
			 Southern HSS Board 77.9 
			 Western HSS Board 77.1 
		
	
	The uptake rate for cervical screening for 50-59 year old women in rural areas is 69.8 per cent.
	It is not possible to provide information for the number of women screened in their 70s as the Northern Ireland breast and cervical screening programmes do not routinely invite these women for screening.
	The target uptake rate for breast screening in Northern Ireland is 75 per cent. The target uptake rate for cervical screening is 76 per cent.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much his Department spent on taxis in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: The Northern Ireland Office, excluding its agencies and NDPBs, has spent £28,307 on taxis in the last 12 months (October 2005 to September 2006).

Energy Performance Certificates

Eric Pickles: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland at what stage of the home buying process an energy performance certificate will be required in Northern Ireland once the regulations are implemented.

David Hanson: Article 7(1) of the EU directive on the energy performance of buildings requires that an energy performance certificate is made available to the prospective buyer when a dwelling is constructed or sold.

Hampton Review

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what input  (a) his Department and  (b) its (i) agencies and (ii) non-departmental public bodies had into the Hampton Review and its report, Reducing Administrative Burdens: Effective Inspection and Enforcement.

Peter Hain: I refer the hon. Member to answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 9 October 2006,  Official Report, column 280W.

Ministerial Visits

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on how many occasions he has stayed overnight in Northern Ireland since the end of June 2006.

Peter Hain: Since the end of June 2006 I have stayed overnight in Northern Ireland on 20 occasions. The hon. Gentleman will wish to note that this period also covers my annual leave.

Policing

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what progress has been made in encouraging Sinn Fein to engage in the policing process in Northern Ireland.

Peter Hain: As the agreement reached in St. Andrews last week made clear, we want to see the support for policing and the rule of law extend to every part of the community. This includes endorsing fully the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the criminal justice system, actively encouraging everyone in the community to co-operate fully with the PSNI in tackling crime in all areas and actively supporting all the policing and criminal justice institutions, including the Policing Board. The political parties of Northern Ireland—including Sinn Fein—have until 10 November 2006 to confirm their endorsement of the St. Andrews agreement. Based on intensive negotiations at St. Andrews, we believe that all parties should be able to endorse it and to implement it in good faith, building on the trust and confidence necessary for a stable and lasting settlement.

School Bullying

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of school bullying in Northern Ireland have been referred to the Department of Education in the last 12 months, broken down by education and library board; and what measures the Department has taken  (a) to resolve each case and  (b) to reduce the number of incidents of school bullying in Northern Ireland.

Maria Eagle: The Department of Education does not collect the information requested. The Department recognises that bullying, in whatever form and for whatever reason, has no place in schools. The Department has taken proactive steps to tackle bullying through development and publication of guidance. Further, the Education and Libraries (NI) Order 2003, which came into operation on 1 April 2003, places a duty on all grant-aided schools to have an anti-bullying policy and to draw up measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils.
	In 2004 the Department in partnership with voluntary organisations, including Save the Children, established an anti-bullying forum to enable a collaborative and co-ordinated approach to tackling bullying in schools. The Forum enables members to share models of best practice, disseminate information, to develop and co-ordinate joint initiatives to ensure that schools and organisations working with children and young people are able to develop appropriate strategies to prevent and deal with bullying behaviours.
	In addition, information about the scale and nature of bullying in Northern Ireland schools is contained in a research report published in October 2002. A research briefing summary is available on the Department's website at www.deni.gov.uk/rb8_2002.pdf. The Department has commissioned updated research into bullying, in all its forms, and the results are expected to be ready for publication by mid 2007.

School Bullying

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many pupils were  (a) suspended and  (b) permanently excluded from school in Northern Ireland for bullying in each of the last three years.

Maria Eagle: From the 2002-03 school year, statistics on the reasons for suspension have been gathered annually from each education and library board and relate to the number of individual suspensions not to the number of pupils suspended. The following table details the number of suspensions for bullying of another pupil in the 2002-03 to 2004-05 school years:
	
		
			   Number of suspensions for bullying of another pupil 
			 2002-03 289 
			 2003-04 341 
			 2004-05 322 
		
	
	Reasons for expulsion have been collected since the 2003-04 school year. The number of pupils expelled for bullying of another pupil is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   Number of pupils expelled for bullying of another pupil 
			 2002-03 Not available 
			 2003-04 0 
			 2004-05 2

WALES

Departmental Mail

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what percentage of the Department's mail is shipped using private companies; and what the cost was over the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: The Wales Office does not use private companies to distribute mail. All mail goes by Royal Mail or the Government's Internal Delivery System (IDS).

Race Relations

Hywel Francis: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the leaders of  (a) the Muslim community in Wales and  (b) the Commission for Racial Equality in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: I maintain close and regular contact with the Muslim community in Wales.
	During the summer I met representatives from the Bangladeshi community in Cardiff, together with the High Commissioner. Earlier in the year my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary met a visiting group of Muslim women at the House of Commons, led by the Chief Executive of the All-Wales Saheli Association.
	The Commission for Racial Equality keeps me regularly updated on its activities in Wales.

Single Farm Payment

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much single farm payment has been paid in Wales up to the end of June; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Between 1 December 2005, and 30 June 2006, £205.23 million was paid to farmers in Wales.

Sub-post Offices

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Minister about the sub-post offices in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with the First Minister on a range of topics, including the post office network in Wales.

Sub-post Offices

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with representatives of sub-post offices in Wales in the last 12 months.

Peter Hain: I am kept up to date with concerns about the post office network in Wales through correspondence with representative bodies, consumers and Welsh Members of Parliament and Assembly Members.
	Taking their concerns forward, I have regular discussions with Department of Trade and Industry Ministers and am also a member of the Cabinet Committee, MISC 33, which is considering the post office network.

Welsh Language

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales whether the Wales Office has adopted a Welsh language policy.

Peter Hain: Yes. Our Welsh Language Scheme has been formally endorsed by the Welsh Language Board and can be found on our website www.walesoffice.gov.uk.

DEFENCE

"Not to Exceed" Dates

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the "not to exceed" in-service date at main gate was for  (a) Swiftsure and Trafalgar Class Update (Final Phase),  (b) Sting Ray Life Extension and Capability Upgrade,  (c) Brimstone,  (d) Nimrod MRA4,  (e) Astute,  (f) Airborne Stand Off Radar,  (g) A400M,  (h) Beyond Visual Range Air to Air Missile,  (i) T45 Destroyer,  (j) Typhoon ASTA,  (k) Future Joint Combat Aircraft,  (l) Support Vehicle,  (m) Skynet,  (n) Next Generation Light Air Armour Weapon,  (o) CIP-ComBAT, DBL Infrastructure, Platform ELSA,  (p) Apache Bowman Connectivity,  (q) C Vehicle capability and  (r) M-TADS; and what the "not to exceed" cost at main gate was for the demonstration and manufacture phase of each project, broken down into (i) indirect departmental expenditure limit (DEL), (ii) direct DEL and (iii) capital DEL.

Adam Ingram: I will write to the hon. Member and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Afghanistan

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his assessment is of the current fighting capacity of the Taliban; and what his latest estimate is of the number of Taliban fighters.

Des Browne: The Taliban are currently able to threaten Afghan and international security forces in parts of eastern and southern Afghanistan by means of improvised explosive devices, suicide bombers and small-scale ambushes. They have not been able to hold territory in the face of offensive action by Afghan and international security forces.
	Insurgent activity has been less marked in other areas, though suicide bombs have been used in Kabul and occasionally elsewhere in the North and West. The Taliban have also been active in the thinly-populated provinces of Nimruz and Farah in south-west Afghanistan. Violent incidents have been on the rise in northern Afghanistan, albeit from a very low base. Much of the violence in northern and western Afghanistan is in any case criminal-related rather than directed against the international presence.
	Estimating Taliban numbers is difficult, but we do know that they are thought to be comprised of a mixture of full-time fighters and a larger number of recruits generated locally within Afghanistan, motivated by a range of factors, including money.

Afghanistan

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what recent discussions he has had with the Afghan Government on a comprehensive policy for the treatment of individuals detained during fighting in Afghanistan.

Adam Ingram: UK troops are in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led international security assistance force mission (ISAF). NATO policy is that individuals detained by ISAF forces should be transferred to the Afghan authorities at the first opportunity and within 96 hours, or released.
	On 23 April 2006, the UK agreed a memorandum of understanding with the Afghan Government which will cover transfer of detainees to the Afghan authorities following detention by UK forces, and which includes undertakings from the Afghans that they will respect international obligations.

Afghanistan

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what quantity of military stores and equipment are being flown from the UK to Afghanistan per week, broken down by commodity.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 17 October 2006
	For operational security reasons, it is MOD's policy not to disclose information on specific military equipment employed on particular operations. The information requested is not, in any event, held centrally.

Armoured Vehicles

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what risk assessment has been made of the ability of Pinzgauer Vector armoured vehicles to give adequate protection to the driver in the event of running over  (a) a mine and  (b) an improvised explosive device, with particular reference to the cone of destruction; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: To safeguard our own and allied troops, we do not comment on the detail of our vehicles' protection levels. However, the need to provide enhanced protection against the threats currently faced in Iraq and Afghanistan, including mines and improvised explosive devices, was a factor in the decision to procure rapidly a suite of protected patrol vehicles, including an additional 106 Pinzgauer Vector vehicles, which would give commanders a range of options dependent on the operational circumstances.
	I also refer the hon. Member to the Statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State made on 24 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 74-76WS.

Defence Expenditure

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the cost of operations in  (a) Iraq and  (b) Afghanistan in the 2006-07 financial year are being charged to the Treasury Reserve on a (i) marginal and (ii) full cost basis.

Des Browne: holding answer 12 October 2006
	The Ministry of Defence identifies the costs of operations, in both Iraq and Afghanistan, in terms of the net additional (marginal) costs it has incurred. The costs that the Department would have incurred regardless of the operation taking place, such as wages other than operational allowances, are not included. Savings on activities that have not occurred because of the operation—training exercises for example—are taken into account in arriving at the net figures.

Departmental Accounts

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what income, measured on an accrual basis, was received by his Department, excluding entities within the  (a) Whole of Government Accounts boundary and  (b) Central Government Accounts boundary, for financial years 1999-2000 to 2005-06.

Adam Ingram: Information in the form requested is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Income from external customers (defined as excluding other government departments, trading funds and QinetiQ prior to its flotation on the London Stock Exchange) is disclosed in the published Departmental Resource Accounts, copies of which are available in the Library of the House. The following table summarises the income received from external customers in each of the last seven financial years:
	
		
			   £000 
			 1999-2000 715,075 
			 2000-01 969,692 
			 2001-02 1,016,798 
			 2002-03 1,169,797 
			 2003-04 1,226,694 
			 2004-05 1,214,017 
			 2005-06 1,203,825

Departmental Trading Accounts

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's memorandum trading accounts for each year since 1997-98.

Adam Ingram: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Detainees (Compensation)

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  on what date the last claim for compensation was received from a detainee of a combined services detailed interrogation centre;
	(2)  what procedures are available for former detainees of combined services detailed interrogation centres, with a particular reference to Bad Nenndorf, to claim compensation for injuries received while detained; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: Section 11 of the Limitation Act 1980 provides that personal injury claims must be brought within three years from the date of the cause of the action or the date of knowledge (if later) of the person injured. This means that former detainees cannot bring compensation claims now for injuries they may have received while they were detained. In addition, prior to 1948, claims would have been prevented from proceeding by virtue of Crown Immunity. In accordance with MOD's policies for the selection of records for permanent preservation, any MOD files relating to claims between 1948 and the disbandment of the Combined Services Detailed Interrogation Centre would have been destroyed many years ago.

Flight Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned average monthly flight simulator training hours are for Typhoon pilots.

Adam Ingram: We do not hold the information in the format requested. However, for qualified Typhoon pilots the current plan is for an average 18 simulator sorties per annum. A simulator sortie is approximately one hour to one hour 15 minutes long. Additional sorties may be planned in accordance with operational training requirements.

Flight Training

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the planned average monthly flight training hours are for Typhoon pilots.

Adam Ingram: The current planned average monthly flight training hours for Typhoon pilots are 17.5 hours per pilot per month.

Iraq

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what charges have been brought against suspects detained by British forces in Basra in 2006; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: As at 10 October 2006 criminal charges have been brought against 10 internees held by British forces. Their cases have been transferred to the Iraqi criminal justice system. Two have been charged with involvement in the murder of two members of 33 Engineer Regiment (EOD) who died in March 2003 and the remainder are charged with weapons offences.
	Information is held only for internees who have been detained at the divisional temporary detention facility and not for those placed from the outset into Iraqi custody.

Pilot Effectiveness

Peter Viggers: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what study has been made of the operational effectiveness of  (a) male and  (b) female pilots.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 October 2006
	No such study has been undertaken.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the net proceeds were of the sale of part of the Government's stake in QinetiQ; for what purpose those proceeds were applied; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The taxpayer has benefited by nearly £600 million to date from the public-private partnership (PPP) sale of part of the Government's stake in QinetiQ. Throughout the period of Spending Reviews 2002 and 2004 the Ministry of Defence retained approximately £250 million from the initial PPP transaction with Carlyle (2003) and a further £250 million from the Initial Public Offering (February 2006) for reinvestment in the defence programme.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the value is of the Government's remaining stake in QinetiQ.

Adam Ingram: The value of the Government's remaining 19.3 per cent. stake in QinetiQ is dependent on the share price. At close of trading on the London Stock Exchange on 10 October 2006, at a share price of 178 pence, the Government's 124,885,445 shares were worth some £222 million.

QinetiQ

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the cost has been to date of QinetiQ's equity investment in the Metrix consortium; what the maximum investment will be; and whether QinetiQ sought the Government's approval for such an investment.

Adam Ingram: QinetiQ's involvement in the Metrix consortium is an operational matter for the company; questions should be referred to the chief executive at the following address:
	Graham Love
	Chief Executive
	QinetiQ Limited
	Cody Technology Park
	Building Al
	Ively Road
	Farnborough
	Hampshire GU14 OLX
	There is no requirement for QinetiQ to seek the Government's approval for any such investment.

Recruitment

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many people have expressed an interest in joining each of the armed forces in each year since 2000; and how this information is captured.

Des Browne: Thousands of people inquire about the process of joining the armed forces each year. They include parents, teachers and students undertaking research as well as those considering a service career. Most make contact by telephone, mail, hits on the services career websites, or by visiting armed forces careers offices for information and advice. The number of applicants in each year since financial year 2000-01 who showed a firm interest in joining is as follows:
	
		
			   Naval service  Army  RAF 
			  2000-01
			 Officers 1,427 1,925 4,692 
			 Other Ranks 13,034 33,332 15,997 
			 
			  2001-02
			 Officers 1,497 1,893 4,005 
			 Other Ranks 12,132 38,929 15,448 
			 
			  2002-03
			 Officers 1,494 1,984 3,757 
			 Other Ranks 13,721 36,104 13,447 
			 
			  2003-04
			 Officers 1,165 2,265 3,719 
			 Other Ranks 10,971 33,801 9,123 
			 
			  2004-05
			 Officers 1,125 1,795 3,193 
			 Other Ranks 9,866 29,413 8,260 
			 
			  2005-06
			 Officers 1,714 1,963 2,685 
			 Other Ranks 11,517 35,026 7,272

Royal Irish Regiment

Jeffrey M Donaldson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Oral Statement of 9 March 2006, on the Royal Irish Regiment (Home Service),  Official Report, columns 961-3, how many full-time members of the Royal Irish Regiment Home Service Battalions have indicated their intention to transfer to general service under the terms of the package; and whether the special payment for transfer also applies to transfer to the Royal Air Force.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 16 October 2006
	As at 10 October, 27 officers and 44 soldiers from the Home Service Battallions of the Royal Irish Regiment have indicated a preference to transfer to general service terms and conditions. The General Service Engagement Bounty is only available to those home service personnel who wish to transfer and are accepted into the general service Army.
	We remain hopeful that more home service personnel will take up this opportunity to continue with their career in the armed forces where they can continue to make a valuable contribution to defence.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Boundary Commission

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs 
	(1)  when she expects the Boundary Commission for England to submit its final report on Parliamentary boundary changes in England to her Department;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the progress of the Boundary Commission's review of English Parliamentary boundaries.

Bridget Prentice: The Boundary Commission for England announced in their Newsletter 2 of 2006, issued on 16 August 2006, that they were on schedule to submit the final report on their fifth general review of parliamentary constituencies in England to the Secretary of State by 31( )October 2006.
	It is my understanding that they remain on course to submit their final report by that date. Submission this month will be well within the statutory maximum of 12 years since submission of their previous general review final report, which took place in April 1995.

Care Cases

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what data were used to determine the rates proposed for legal aid funded care work.

Vera Baird: The proposed rates are based on 2004-05 final bill case costs for legal aid funded care work.

Care Cases

John Mann: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what percentage of the legal aid budget for care proceedings was expended on  (a) solicitors',  (b) barristers' and  (c) experts' fees in each of the last three years.

Vera Baird: Percentage expenditure on care proceedings in total for the last three years is set out in the following table. The Legal Services Commission does not keep data centrally on expert fees specifically and only records disbursements generally.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Financial year  Profit costs  Counsel fees  Disbursements 
			 2003-04 60.4 28.6 11.0 
			 2004-05 62.2 25.7 12.0 
			 2005-06 61.4 25.3 13.4

Conveyancing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the timetable is for implementing of electronic conveyancing.

Bridget Prentice: The introduction of electronic conveyancing is, without question, the most ambitious and innovative programme of work carried out by Land Registry to date. It will radically change the way property transactions are undertaken by a wide range of stakeholders.
	In order to manage these changes effectively, and in direct response to stakeholder demand, Land Registry is introducing electronic conveyancing products and services gradually in a number of tranches over the next few years. An early prototype of the Chain Matrix TM will be launched during the first quarter of 2007. A pilot of electronic conveyancing will follow the introduction of the necessary legislation which is unlikely to be in place before March 2008.

Conveyancing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what  (a) guidance and  (b) resources are being provided to local authorities to assist with the implementation of electronic conveyancing.

Bridget Prentice: The majority of staff who work as part of "in house" legal departments of local authorities are qualified solicitors or legal executives who are already familiar with Land Registry's current services and procedures. Land Registry has good working relationships with local authority solicitors, who regularly attend educational seminars run by Land Registry throughout England and Wales.
	With regard to training specifically for electronic conveyancing, Land Registry is keen to support its diverse customer segments and is already talking to several local authorities in order to address their specific needs. Land Registry's intention is to offer online training packages on how to use the electronic conveyancing system and, if appropriate, other forms of training will also be considered. Training will be supplemented by seminars and talks around all major cities in England and Wales. Land Registry is about to start further consultation on its proposals for electronic conveyancing training with all stakeholder groups, including local authorities. This will give them the opportunity to comment on the proposals and contribute their ideas to the training framework. While it is proposed that Land Registry will provide the training material, it will be the stakeholders' responsibility to ensure that their staff have the appropriate IT skills and equipment to enable them to use the electronic conveyancing system.

Databases (Security Breaches)

Jo Swinson: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many confirmed security breaches of databases controlled by her Department occurred in each of the last five years; whether the breach resulted from internal or external sources in each case; how many records were compromised on each occasion; and what estimate was made of the total number of records accessible to the individuals concerned.

Vera Baird: There have been two incidents in my Department. The first occurred in 2001 and the second happened in July 2006. Both breaches resulted from external sources: the information was compromised when IT equipment was stolen from departmental accommodation. No information was recorded on the number of records compromised in the first incident; the second incident is under investigation.

Freedom of Information

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what powers the Information Commission has to inspect the files, e-mails or records of a public authority when considering  (a) Freedom of Information Act 2000 and  (b) Data Protection Act 1998 appeals.

Vera Baird: Section 51 of the Freedom of Information Act enables the Commissioner to obtain from a public authority, by issuing an information notice, information he reasonably requires to determine whether it is complying with the Act. This corresponds to the powers of the Commissioner under section 43 of the Data Protection Act 1998.
	The Commissioner also has powers of entry and inspection under schedule 3 of the Freedom of Information Act, which sets out the circumstances in which, where he suspects a contravention of the Act, the Commissioner may seek a warrant from a court enabling him to enter and search premises and seize material. The Commissioner has comparable powers of entry and inspection under schedule 9 of the Data Protection Act 1998.

Land Registry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate the Land Registry has made of the number of  (a) leasehold and  (b) commonhold domestic properties sold each year in England and Wales.

Bridget Prentice: Land Registry is responsible for maintaining and developing the register of title for England and Wales. Although it processes the registration of leasehold land and property and, since implementation of the Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, commonhold registrations, it makes no specific assessment of the number of leasehold or commonhold sales.

Land Registry

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what estimate the Land Registry has made of the number of  (a) leasehold and  (b) commonhold domestic properties in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) each Government Office region in England.

Bridget Prentice: Land Registry's records show that, currently, there are 3.77 million registered leasehold interests in England and Wales of which 119,000 relate to properties in Wales. There are nine commonhold residential developments comprising 115 units of which 34 units have been registered in the names of the individual unit holders. One of these developments, comprising 22 units, is in Wales (18 units are registered in the names of the individual unit holders) and the remainder are in England.
	Land Registry's 24 local offices are distributed throughout England and Wales but do not necessarily deal only with land and property in their respective geographic areas. A breakdown of leasehold registrations by Government Office Region could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Legal Aid

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many firms of solicitors in England and Wales undertake Legal Services Commission funded criminal law work; and how many undertook such work in 1997.

Vera Baird: Data provided by the LSC show that, as at 31 March 2006, there were 2,608 solicitors' offices operating under a contract for the criminal defence service. In 1997-98, there were 7,315 considered active in criminal defence service work.
	This change reflects the important work taken forward with the introduction of the General Criminal Contract in April 2001, where more stringent requirements were introduced for firms and practitioners engaged in criminal defence work. These changes meant that, for instance, divorce lawyers who had previously "dabbled" in the Criminal Defence Service could no longer take on this work. In turn, this meant that clients could be seen by practitioners who were specialists in criminal work, improving the quality of advice and further ensuring equality of arms.

Postal Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what progress has been made by electoral registration officers and local authorities on improving registration rates for postal votes.

Bridget Prentice: There is no duty on electoral registration officers or local authorities to increase the number of electors registered to vote by post.
	Section 9 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 places a new duty on electoral registration officers to take certain steps to maximise the number of eligible people on the electoral register. That section came into force on 11 September 2006. However, it will be too early to assess what impact the new provision has had until 1 December at the earliest, when the new electoral registers are published following the current annual canvass exercise.

Postal Voting

Chris Ruane: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much funding has been allocated to each local authority to implement postal vote identifiers under the new postal vote legislation.

Bridget Prentice: We have provisionally set aside a figure of £4.1 million for collection of additional personal identifiers from existing postal voters in local authorities in England and Wales. A further £5.5 million has been provisionally set aside to implement the checking of identifiers at elections in those areas.
	These figures have been calculated on the basis of the estimated number of electors who will be registered for a postal vote following the current annual canvass, combined with costings for implementation provided by the Association of Electoral Administrators. However, final figures—including specific amounts to be paid to each local authority—will be calculated once the actual number of postal voters is determined following the conclusion of the current canvass period.

Statue Law Database

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs for what reason the statute law database is subject to Crown copyright protection.

Vera Baird: Crown copyright is defined in section 163 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 as follows:
	"163. (1) Where a work is made by Her Majesty or by an officer or servant of the Crown in the course of his duties:
	(a) the work qualifies for copyright protection notwithstanding section 153(1) (ordinary requirement as to qualification for copyright protection), and
	(b) Her Majesty is the first owner of any copyright in the work.
	(2) Copyright in such a work is referred to in this Part as "Crown copyright", notwithstanding that it may be, or have been assigned to another person."
	The Statute Law Database is being prepared by civil servants within the Department for Constitutional Affairs and therefore meets the definition within the Act.

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Departmental Staff

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for which Government  (a) Department and  (b) building the Cabinet Office is recruiting a house manager through the trawl with Cabinet Office reference REC/06/98.

Patrick McFadden: The post holder will be working for the Cabinet Office and may be assigned to any Cabinet Office building.

Social Exclusion

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what provision will be made specifically for older people under the new social exclusion plans.

Hilary Armstrong: The Social Exclusion Unit (SEU) report "A Sure Start to Later Life (2006)" sets out the Government's commitment to tackling exclusion amongst older people. Key in the report is the launch of eight LinkAge Plus pilots or "one-stop shops" for older people. The Social Exclusion Task Force will continue to take an interest in progress on these pilots to ensure they are tackling and addressing social exclusion amongst older people, and explore how lessons learnt can be rolled out more widely.
	In addition, the task force will consider issues affecting older people in its future programme of work and the Government are piloting the use of individual budgets, which will help vulnerable older and disabled people take control of their lives and choose the services that suit them best.

Voluntary/Community Sector

Mike Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what recent research she has  (a) commissioned and  (b) evaluated on the cost to the voluntary and community sector of meeting statutory (i) audit and (ii) reporting arrangements; and if she will make a statement.

Edward Miliband: The Government have not commissioned formal research in this area. They do, however, recognise that onerous and burdensome monitoring and reporting requirements do not deliver best value for money, either for funding organisations or recipients of funding. This will be addressed through deregulatory changes to the audit regime for charities in the forthcoming Charities Bill. The Bill will also make a number of other deregulatory changes that will particularly benefit small charities. The Government have looked at detailed ways in which the audit and reporting framework for funding the Third Sector can be more effective through a series of regional pilot schemes.
	These include:
	The Combined National Audit pilot by the Government Office for the West Midlands. This has been developed to streamline monitoring, evaluation and audit activity for organisations funded by the public sector The pilot, which is based in Birmingham, is initially testing a joint approach to monitoring and audit for the public funders of community and voluntary sector organisations;
	Three regional pilots (in London, the South West and Yorkshire and the Humber and led by the relevant regional Government Offices) to test the concept of 'lead funder' with regional stakeholders. These have been designed to establish the feasibility of one public sector organisation co-ordinating applications and monitoring on behalf of others. The Office of the Third Sector is currently evaluating the results of the pilots.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Afghanistan

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many trained Afghan  (a) police and  (b) soldiers there were in 2001; and what the figures are for the most recent year for which figures are available.

Kim Howells: We are not aware of any figures for the number of trained police and soldiers in 2001 when no national police and army existed. Training and equipping the Afghan national army and police started effectively from scratch after the fall of the Taliban in 2001.
	The most recent year for which figures are available is 2005. At 31 December 2005, the total number of trained police officers stood at 56,900. Since this time, however, the figures compiled have been baselined to reflect the number of Afghan police both trained and equipped. On 24 April 2006, this figure stood at 30,263. The figure for trained and equipped soldiers at 29 September 2006 stood at around 35,000.

Afghanistan

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the  (a) background and  (b) suitability of the (i) provincial governors and (ii) police chiefs appointed by the Government of Afghanistan outside Kabul in Afghanistan; and what assessment she has made of the impact on steps taken to (1) improve human rights and (2) reduce opium production by the international community in Afghanistan of these appointments.

Kim Howells: The background and suitability of individuals for posts as governors and police chiefs is a matter for President Karzai and the Afghan Government. We do monitor senior appointments and should there be serious concerns about an individual's background or suitability to perform the role, we would consider raising the issue with the Afghan Government. While the appointment of suitable individuals for posts within the administration is important for strengthening good governance, human rights, the rule of law and economic growth in Afghanistan, many of the factors that influence opium poppy cultivation go well beyond the appointment of specific individuals.

Bangladesh

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the response by the Bangladesh authorities to the grenade attack on 21 August 2004 on Opposition leaders; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: The Bangladeshi authorities made some arrests in connection with the 21 August 2004 attack last year, but so far these have not, to our knowledge, resulted in any prosecutions. We have noted the recent arrests of a number of suspects in connection with similar grenade attacks and take this as a sign of the Government of Bangladesh's commitment to resolving all such cases. We very much hope to see further progress with the investigations into the 21 August attack. We have regularly stressed both privately and in public to the Government of Bangladesh the importance of this, not least for those who were injured and for the relatives of those who died. We maintain a regular dialogue with the Government of Bangladesh on countering political and extremist violence and the need to deal with terrorism and extremism in a sustained and effective way, while at the same time respecting human rights and the rule of law.

Bangladesh

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if her Department will take steps better to co-ordinate representations from the UK, EU, US, the Commonwealth and Japan for a proper electoral process in Bangladesh; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: Officials from our High Commission in Dhaka and here in London are in close contact with the EU, US and Commonwealth Secretariat on monitoring the elections in Bangladesh, due to take place in January 2007.
	The elections are coming at a critical time for Bangladesh. It is essential that these elections are seen to be free, fair, peaceful and accepted. Recent election evaluation missions by the UN, EU and US have consistently identified important points for the main political parties to address to ensure elections reach the required standards. A fully independent and competent Election Commission has a vital role to play in compiling a complete and accurate voter list. Law enforcement agencies will need to ensure that there is no manipulation of ballots. The electorate should be able to exercise its democratic mandate in a secure and peaceful way. Political parties should be allowed to campaign freely and protest peacefully. The caretaker Government charged with overseeing the elections should ensure no political bias. The election must enjoy the confidence of all international observers. We will continue to take a close interest in preparations for elections, but ultimately it is for the parties and the people of Bangladesh to find solutions and make their elections a success. We encourage the parties to continue talking with each other to this end.

BBC World Service

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with senior executives of the BBC World Service on its coverage in Russia, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Geoff Hoon: A Regional Review of the Former Soviet Union region, incorporating Russia, Central Asia and the Caucusus, took place on 11 May 2006. Senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the BBC World Service (BBCWS) attended. The review discussed in detail World Service presence in the countries concerned and reported on performance and future plans. My noble Friend Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, chaired the annual FCO/BBCWS ministerial meeting on 26 June 2006. Here, the director of the World Service reported generally on the overall, global performance of the World Service. Throughout the course of the year, there have also been individual meetings between the FCO and BBCWS officials to discuss BBCWS concerns in Tajikistan and Ukzbekistan.

Burma

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with the United States Administration on tabling a UN binding resolution on Burma; and what assessment she has made of the likelihood of securing such a resolution.

Ian McCartney: We worked closely with the US and other members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to secure the votes required to add Burma to the Council agenda on 15 September. On 29 September, the UNSC formally discussed Burma for the first time. This marked a significant step forward. We will continue to support strongly the efforts of the UN to achieve progress in Burma and we will work with the US and like-minded partners in the Council to seek a Resolution on Burma. We expect UN Under-Secretary General Gambari to return soon to Burma and the outcome of that visit will have a bearing on future Council action.

Gibraltar

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether she plans to discuss with the Spanish Government increasing claims to British territorial waters surrounding Gibraltar.

Geoff Hoon: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has no such plans.

Haiti

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the extent of press freedom in Haiti.

Geoff Hoon: The media in Haiti is dominated by private radio stations and while levels of state censorship are low, there are problems such as violence against journalists and resulting self-censorship. Press freedom was severely limited in Haiti during former President Aristide's period in office, which ended in February 2004. While some improvements in the situation were reported in the following months, the situation remained fragile under the interim Government that led Haiti until this year's presidential elections. There were a number of reports of violent attacks on journalists by armed gangs, and of impunity for the perpetrators in that interim period. An event of particular concern was the kidnap and murder of journalist Jacques Roche in July 2005. Bringing those responsible for attacks on press freedom to justice is essential and is one of the motivations behind the UN Stabilisation Mission in Haiti's focus on the reform of the police and judicial system. Encouragingly, the recently elected President, Rene Preval, has also expressed his determination to tackle this and other human rights problems in Haiti.

Internet Neutrality

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions her Department has had with the US Administration on internet neutrality; and if she will make a statement.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has not discussed internet neutrality with the US Administration. In recent years, issues relating to the internet globally have been part of multilateral negotiations, involving both the US and UK, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Iran

Keith Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with her US counterparts on support for pro-democracy activities in Iran.

Kim Howells: The United Kingdom is committed to supporting efforts to promote political, economic and social reform in the middle east. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary regularly discusses these issues with her US counterparts and other international partners.

Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the implications of North Korea's first nuclear test for long-term trade with and aid from South Korea.

Ian McCartney: Following the missile tests in July, the Republic of Korea (RoK) suspended humanitarian shipments to North Korea, although they did agree to an emergency flood relief package. They have not yet announced further measures, but we expect them to clarify policy after the UN Security Council Resolution is adopted. Our assessment is that any further contraction of food assistance would affect the North Korean people. The Government will continue to state our preference to other Governments, including the RoK, for non-humanitarian forms of leverage in reaction to North Korean provocation.
	Inter-Korean trade, including the South Korean-run Kaesong Industrial Zone and the Mount Keumgang Tourist Resort, continues; although President Roh has indicated a review of South Korea's engagement policy.

Korea

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions have taken place within NATO about the announcement by North Korea that it conducted a test of a nuclear explosive device on 9 October; and what decisions were taken.

Kim Howells: On 9 October NATO discussed North Korea's announcement of a nuclear test and issued the following statement:
	"The Alliance condemns in the strongest terms possible the North Korean nuclear weapon test. This test poses an extremely serious threat to peace and security in the Pacific region and the world.
	The Alliance calls upon North Korea to cease immediately the further development of any nuclear weapon technologies, to return immediately to the Six Party Talks without precondition, and to completely and verifiably eliminate its nuclear weapons and related programmes.
	The Alliance joins all of the international community in calling on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to abide by its non-proliferation obligations and will continue to monitor developments with attention and deep concern".

Korea

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely effect of targeted sanctions against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on that country's food shortage.

Ian McCartney: The sanctions imposed by UN Security Council Resolution 1718 (2006) which was adopted unanimously on 14 October are aimed at bringing the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) into compliance with the demands set out clearly in that resolution. They are targeted on specific areas such as DPRK's nuclear and ballistic-missile programmes. They are not targeted at, nor do we expect any impact upon, the country's food supplies.

Kyoto Protocol

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent  (a) discussions she has had and  (b) representations she has made to (i) Russia, (ii) Germany, (iii) the United States, (iv) Canada, (v) Australia, (vi) China and (vii) India on implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) leads the Government's work on climate change and has responsibility for ensuring the UK meets its Kyoto target. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and its network of posts, supports DEFRA. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's role is to promote the Government's objective to move to a low carbon global economy. A stable climate is an immediate security and prosperity imperative and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is putting climate security at the heart of foreign policy. Working with international partners is essential for tackling climate change policy and moving to a low carbon economy. DEFRA and the FCO have regular discussions with the countries in question. For example, both my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Foreign Secretary met with counterparts from many of these countries at the successful second ministerial meeting of the Gleneagles Dialogue in Monterrey, Mexico on 3-4 October.

Kyoto Protocol

Si�n James: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the  (a) European Union and  (b) United Nations on the implementation of the Kyoto Protocol.

Ian McCartney: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) leads the Government's work on climate change and has responsibility for ensuring the UK meets its Kyoto target. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), and its network of posts, supports DEFRA. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's role is to promote the Government's objective to move to a low carbon global economy. A stable climate is an immediate security and prosperity imperative and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary is putting climate security at the heart of foreign policy. EU and UN leadership is essential for tackling climate change policy and moving to a low carbon economy. DEFRA and the FCO have regular discussions in both forums. For example, my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made climate security a key focus of her speech at the UN General Assembly in September.

Mexico

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report she has received from  (a) the UK embassy and  (b) the EU observers on the presidential election in Mexico; and what analysis has been made of Democratic Revolutionary Party objections made to the Electoral Commission.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 18 October 2006
	Our embassy in Mexico City has sent many reports on the presidential election in Mexico. The EU undertook a formal and independent electoral observation mission (EOM) in Mexico for the elections. The EOM has reported that the electoral authorities conducted the electoral process in an impartial, professional and transparent manner. The EOM will publish its final report in due course and we await its findings. The Democratic Revolutionary Party objections made to the Mexican Electoral Commission were considered in detail and decided on by the Federal Electoral Courtthe body charged in the Mexican constitution with this role.

Mexico

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what meetings have been held by UK embassy officials in Mexico with  (a) Felipe Caldern and Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador and  (b) their representatives.

Geoff Hoon: holding answer 18 October 2006
	Our ambassador in Mexico City has had two official meetings with Felipe Caldern, with other EU ambassadors. Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador declined EU invitations to similar official meetings with EU ambassadors. Embassy officials in Mexico City, including our ambassador, have met with advisers to Felipe Caldern and Andrs Manuel Lpez Obrador on many occasions.

Middle East

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the status is of the negotiated text based on the Prisoners Accord in the Israel-Palestine dispute; which parties agree to it and which do not; what steps the Government are taking to secure agreement; and if she will make a statement.

Kim Howells: We understand that the National Conciliation document, based on the Prisoners Accord, was initialled by negotiators from Fatah and Hamas but was not formally agreed. Other Palestinian factions have either not commented on the text, or expressed reservations about parts of it, for example, Palestinian Islamic Jihad. This document formed the basis for discussions to form a Palestinian National Unity Government. These discussions have not resulted in any agreement.
	My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister discussed the formation of a Palestinian National Unity Government with President Abbas on 10 September. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear our readiness to work with any Government pursuing a programme based on the three Quartet principlesrecognition of Israel, commitment to agreements previously signed by the Palestine Liberation Organisation and the Palestinian Authority with Israel, and renunciation of violence.
	No such Government have been formed. We continue to support President Abbas' efforts to form a Government with which we can engage.

Nuclear Weapons

Dai Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the United Nations Security Council has agreed the scope of sanctions to be applied to any state withdrawing its membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Kim Howells: The basis for the Security Council's use of sanctions is to give effect to its decisions where it has determined the existence of a threat to the peace, breach of the peace, or act of aggression, consistent with Chapter VII of the Charter of the UN. The Security Council does not have a pre-agreed formulation for the scope of sanctions to be applied to a state withdrawing its membership of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Where the council has imposed sanctions in the past, the scope of such measures has been based on the specific situation.

Nuclear Weapons

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the impact of North Korea's first nuclear test on nuclear proliferation, with particular reference to Syria and Iran.

Ian McCartney: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary told the House on 10 October, North Korea's nuclear test jeopardises regional stability in North East Asia and poses a clear threat to international peace and security, 10 October 2006,  Official Report, column 163. It contravenes North Korea's commitments under the non-proliferation treaty (NPT), breaches the North-South Joint Declaration on the Denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, and ignores UN Security Council resolution 1695. It also runs counter to the spirit of the September 2005 Declaration to which North Korea has signed up.
	Both Syria and Iran are parties to the NPT. We expect them to abide by all their obligations in this area. Iran is currently defying calls by the International Atomic Energy Agency Board of Governors and the UN Security Council to suspend all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities. These activities would enable it to develop the capability to produce fissile material that could be used in nuclear weapons. North Korea's test and the international reaction to it, in the form of UN Security Council resolution 1718, is only likely to reinforce international determination that Iran should comply with its obligations.

Special Operations

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on BA flight 149 to Kuala Lumpur via Kuwait, 2 August 2003, with particular reference to the involvement of a team of operatives commissioned by her Department.

Kim Howells: I believe the hon. Member is referring to BA flight 149 to Kuala Lumpur via Kuwait, which landed in Kuwait on 2 August 1990.
	The previous Government have previously outlined the facts of this flight to the House through the then Prime Minister's (right hon. Baroness Thatcher) statement on 6 September 1990,  Official Report, columns 734-43. In any case, it is the long-standing policy of the Government not to comment on operational intelligence matters or the activities of UK special forces.

Sudan

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the level of co-operation between the Sudanese Government and the Janjaweed militia.

Ian McCartney: There are credible reports that in recent weeks Arab militia forces, the Janjaweed, have been acting in close co-operation with the Government of Sudan air force and armed forces in attacking non-signatory rebel groups in Darfur, including targeting some villages in north Darfur. We have consistently made clear to the Government of Sudan that they must stop the fighting and implement the peace agreement, including disarming the Janjaweed. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development intends to raise this with the Government when he travels to Sudan later this month.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by the Government of Sudan to disarm and disband the Popular Defence Forces operating in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The Government of Sudan has made a commitment to disarm the Janjaweed/armed militias in the Darfur Peace Agreement. We are pressing the Government of Sudan to present a disarmament plan and take this work forward. There is no requirement per se for the Government of Sudan to disarm other groups, other than as part of balanced force reductions demanded in the Naivasha Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Here, too, we are pressing for early progress.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the President of Nigeria on tackling killings in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has had no recent discussions with the President of Nigeria about Darfur. However, on 22 September, the Nigerian Foreign Minister and my right. hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary met fellow Foreign Ministers in New York to discuss Darfur. They agreed on the need for concerted international action to get the Government of Sudan and the rebel movements to stop the fighting; to agree to the deployment of a UN force; to co-operate in bolstering the African Union in the interim; and the importance of rapid implementation of the Darfur Peace Agreement. This meeting was preceded by discussions on 21 September between my noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, and the Nigerian Foreign Minister on these issues.
	Nigeria has a key role to play in helping to address the appalling crisis in Darfur. Our High Commission in Abuja is in frequent contact with the Nigerian authorities on all aspects of the Darfur crisis. We are keen to work in close co-ordination with Nigeria and other African states, as well as other interested parties, to help address the terrible plight of Darfur.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the recent report by the UN on attacks on villages in South Darfur by the Janjaweed militia.

Ian McCartney: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 17 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1183W.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent estimate she has made of  (a) the death toll,  (b) the number of casualties and  (c) the number of people who have been raped in Darfur since the conflict began.

Ian McCartney: In recent months, the UN and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in South Darfur have reported an increase in violence, rape and sexual attacks. However, no reliable figures exist for the total number of such incidents across Darfur since the conflict began.
	However, every death, casualty or rape in Sudan is a tragedy. That is why we are pressing the Government of Sudan and the rebel groups to stop the fighting; to agree to the deployment of a UN force in Darfur; to co-operate in bolstering the African Union in the interim; to commit to and implement the Darfur Peace Agreement; and to ensure full humanitarian access for the UN and NGOs in Darfur.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans she has for UK support for the African Union force in Darfur.

Ian McCartney: The UK is a leading supporter of the African Union (AU) Mission in Darfur (AMIS). We were its first donor and have to date provided 52 million of assistance. This has been used for budgetary support; to purchase vehicles and other equipment; and to airlift troops to and from Darfur. The AU has now decided to increase the strength of AMIS by two battalions (approximately 1,200 men). We stand ready to assist them in this. Meanwhile, at our urging the UN is helping to bolster AMIS prior to transition to a UN force. We are considering contributing additional personnel as part of the UN assistance package.

Sudan

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of the reports that rebel groups operating in Darfur have begun to attack the civilian population.

Ian McCartney: The UN Sanctions Panel of Experts, established under UN Security Council Resolution 1591, reports widespread harassment and killing of civilians by all sides to the conflict in Darfur. Rebel groups have recently attacked and hijacked humanitarian convoys and seized aid intended for the 3.5 million people in Darfur in need of assistance.
	We utterly condemn these attacks. We have consistently made clear to the rebel movements and the Government of Sudan that they must stop the violence and commit to a political solution, including co-operating with humanitarian agencies.

Thailand

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment she has made of when elections may be held to elect a new Government under the new Thai Administration.

Ian McCartney: On 1 October the King appointed an interim Prime Minister, retired General Surayud Chulanont, and approved an interim constitution, setting out a timetable for the drafting of a substantive, new constitution. The Council for Democratic Reform, which carried out the coup, and the interim Government which has since been appointed, have both pledged to hold new elections on the basis of the new constitution within one year.
	The coup marks a setback for democracy in Thailand. Along with our EU and other international partners, we will urge the Thai authorities to comply with their human rights obligations, hold elections and restore accountable democracy, as soon as possible, to allow the people of Thailand as a whole to choose their Government.

Uzbekistan

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what representations her Department has made to the Uzbek Government following the arrest of journalist Ulugbek Khaidarov on 14 September;
	(2)  what information she has received on the whereabouts of Uzbek opposition journalist Djamshid Karimov following his disappearance in that country on 12 September.

Geoff Hoon: Ulugbek Khaidarov and Djamshid Karimov are well known to our embassy in Tashkent. The embassy has met both journalists on numerous occasions. They last met Ulugbek Khaidarov on 21 July in Jizzakh. Our embassy keeps in close contact with the human rights groups who have been to see Ulugbek Khaidarov in custody. We are very disturbed by the sentencing of Ulugbek Khaidarov and concerned for his welfare. Human rights groups have suggested that the charges against him were trumped up. There has been no official confirmation of Djamshid Karimov's whereabouts from the Uzbek authorities. Press reports suggest that he may be in an asylum.
	We have repeatedly and consistently drawn to the attention of the Uzbek authorities our concerns about the freedom of the press and the harassment of journalists. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 2006 Annual Human Rights Report published on 12 October and available on the FCO website at: www.fco.gov.uk draws attention to the difficulties independent journalists experience in Uzbekistan, including in the Jizzakh region.

Uzbekistan

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what her most recent assessment is of the human rights situation in Uzbekistan.

Geoff Hoon: The events of 12-13 May 2005 in Andizhan and the Uzbek government's response have dominated the political landscape in Uzbekistan. There have been a series of questionable trials accompanied by a clampdown on civil society, non-governmental organisations and the media. International organisations and media have been forced out of Uzbekistan. However, we welcome the abolition of the death penalty from 1 January 2008.
	In response to the Uzbek Government's refusal to allow an international inquiry to clarify what took place in Andizhan, the EU adopted a visa ban and arms embargo against Uzbekistan which came into force in November 2005 for a year. We, and our EU partners, are currently discussing the question of whether these measures will be renewed in November 2006.
	More details are available from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) 2006 Annual Human Rights Report published on 12 October, (chapter 2.19 covers Uzbekistan) on the FCO website: http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/hr_report2006.pdf. Copies of the report are also available in the Library of the House.

Venezuela

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions she has had with the United States Administration about their arms embargo against Venezuela.

Geoff Hoon: We have continuing dialogue with the US on arms sales, which has included US arms policy towards Venezuela.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Benefit Payments

Nick Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the top 100 constituencies ranked by the number of  (a) incapacity benefit and  (b) severe disablement allowance claimants.

Anne McGuire: The available information has been placed in the Library.

Departmental Expenditure

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much his Department has spent on taxis in the last 12 months.

Anne McGuire: In the 2005-06 financial year, the Department for Work and Pensions spent 388,475 on directly invoiced taxi fares. This represents about 1 per cent. of the total 32.8 million spent in the year on business travel. The amount spent on taxis by staff and reclaimed as expenses is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Procurement

Tim Boswell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent improvements have been made to the procurement functions of his Department.

Anne McGuire: The Department appointed a commercial director in 2002 who has led the development of a corporate commercial strategy that applies to the Department for Work and Pensions, its agencies and associated non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs). The strategy sets out the vision, values, objectives and targets for the procurement function and has a general principle of continuous improvement. With board level agreement the strategy was strengthened in 2004 to respond to the challenges for departmental procurement under the efficiency review and again in 2006 to support the Department in delivering its services within budget allocations under the comprehensive spending review 2007.
	Under the commercial strategy, the Department has delivered significant improvements to its procurement capability. These include:
	(i) The first overall reduction in DWP commercial spendin 2005-06 spend with external suppliers reduced by 3 per cent. to 4.161 billion;
	(ii) An increase in procurement value for money gains reported to the Office of Government Commerce from 326.5 million in 2004-05 to 471 million in 2005-06. The improvement derives from significant renegotiations of our IS/IT commercial relationships with EDS and BT and from improved procurement and contract management performance across other supply categories;
	(iii) Board level engagement with our top suppliers to manage the relationship at a strategic level, identify ways to reduce mutual costs and develop a shared vision of future goals and objectives;
	(iv) Improved professionalismthe proportion of professionally qualified staff in the Department's 634 key specialist procurement posts exceeded the 75 per cent. target by December 2005;
	(v) Completion in September 2006 of a procurement modernisation programme that introduced category management, supply chain management and integration, benefits realisation and improved commercial intelligence. It also established better links between procurement and business and finance staff to identify ways to optimise business demand and specifications for goods and services. A new operating model, which will result in a 22 per cent. smaller and more highly skilled procurement organisation, will be in place by April 2007;
	(vi) The launch in December 2005 of a DWP Sustainable Procurement Strategy with related targets to ensure the Department uses its purchasing power and market influence to further economic, social and environmental policy initiatives; and
	(vii) Successful lead of collaborative procurements including a public sector-wide travel booking service and a Government-wide telephone interpreters framework.

Disabled Departmental Staff

Susan Kramer: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many disabled people were hired by his Department in each of the last five years for which figures are available; what percentage of the overall work force these figures represented in each year; and how many disabled people left their employment in his Department over the same period.

Anne McGuire: The information is representative of disabled status as declared by individual members of staff. Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, disability status is self-declared on a voluntary basis and not all staff who consider themselves disabled declare themselves as such for departmental records, so the true figures may be higher than the figures shown.
	The Department for Work and Pensions was created in July 2001, and figures prior to 2002 were unobtainable.
	The information is contained in the following tables.
	
		
			  Entrants by disability status 
			   Disabled  All entrants  Disabled leavers as percentage of all leavers  Staff in post 
			 2002-03 170 17,960 1 137,680 
			 2003-04 60 11,360 0.5 137,330 
			 2004-05 40 5,240 0.8 129,460 
			 2005-06 34 14,676 0.23 126,451 
		
	
	
		
			  Leavers by disability status 
			   Disabled  All leavers  Disabled leavers as percentage of all leavers  Staff in post 
			 2002-03 580 15,590 3.7 137,680 
			 2003-04 410 8,570 4.8 137,330 
			 2004-05 480 11,440 4.2 129,460 
			 2005-06 500 11,352 4.4 126,451

Housing Benefit

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many housing benefit recipients there were in the North East Government office region in the last three years, broken down by  (a) tenure type and  (b) average weekly amount of benefit; and how many private tenants in receipt of housing benefit received less than their weekly eligible rent (i) because of single room rent, (ii) because of local reference rent restrictions and (iii) for other reasons in the same period.

James Plaskitt: The available information is in the following tables:
	
		
			  Housing benefit (HB) recipients by tenure type and average weekly amounts of HB: North East GOR, at May each year 
			  Tenure  Case load  Average weekly amount () 
			  2002   
			 All HB recipients 238,000 43.89 
			
			 Social tenants 200,000 41.59 
			  Of which:   
			 are local authority tenants 142,000 39.03 
			 are RSL tenants 58,000 47.84 
			
			 Private tenants 38,000 56.09 
			
			  2003   
			 All HB recipients 234,000 45.03 
			
			 Social tenants 197,000 42.97 
			  Of which:   
			 are local authority tenants 130,000 40.26 
			 are RSL tenants 67,000 48.26 
			
			 Private tenants 38,000 55.72 
			
			  2004   
			 All HB recipients 231,000 47.41 
			
			 Social tenants 194,000 45.37 
			  Of which:   
			 are local authority tenants 122,000 42.43 
			 are RSL tenants 71,000 50.42 
			
			 Private tenants 38,000 57.84 
			  Notes:  1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest thousand and amounts to the nearest penny. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  2. HB figures exclude any extended payment cases.  3. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  4. Private tenants exclude registered social landlords (RSL).  5. Weekly eligible rent is before any non-dependant deductions. Source: Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent. sample, taken in May 2002 to May 2004. 
		
	
	
		
			  Housing benefit (HB) private tenants whose weekly amount of HB is less than their weekly eligible rent by whether they are subject to the local reference rent (LRR) scheme, the single room rent (SRR) scheme or neither: North East GOR, at May each year 
			   HB private tenants  Of which: have weekly amount of HB less than their weekly eligible rent 
			  2002   
			 All 38,000 7,000 
			 LRR 25,000 5,000 
			 SRR (1)1,000 (2) 
			 Neither 12,000 (1)2,000 
			  
			  2003   
			 All 38,000 6,000 
			 LRR 28,000 3,000 
			 SRR (1)1,000 (2) 
			 Neither 9,000 (1)2,000 
			  
			  2004   
			 All 38,000 7,500 
			 LRR 30,000 5,000 
			 SRR (2)- (2) 
			 Neither 8,000 (1)2,000 
			 (1 )Figures under 2,500, are subject to a high degree of sampling variation and should be used only as a guide to the situation.  (2 ) denotes nil/negligible.   Notes: 1. Caseloads are rounded to the nearest thousand. Totals may not sum due to rounding.  2. HB figures exclude any Extended Payment cases.  3. The data refers to benefit units, which may be a single person or a couple.  4. Private tenants exclude Registered Social Landlords.  5. Weekly eligible rent is after any non-dependant deductions.   Source:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit Management Information System, Annual 1 per cent sample, taken in May 2002 to May 2004.

In-Work Credit Programme

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on the performance of the in-work credit programme.

Jim Murphy: holding answer 16 October 2006
	The in-work credit (IWC) pilots are running in 22 Jobcentre Plus districts.
	Eligible participants are paid 40 a week over and above their total income when they start work for 16 hours or more a week. The payment is tax-free and is paid for a maximum of 52 weeks. It is payable on top of any other in-work benefits which eligible parents may be entitled to, for example working tax credit and housing benefit. The IWC is primarily paid to lone parents but in April 2005, it was extended to other eligible parents in four London Jobcentre Plus districts.
	We have commissioned a full evaluation of the IWC to assess the impact of the pilot on eligible parents, including movements off benefit and into work. Initial findings from the quantitative evaluation are expected to be published in February 2007. In addition, a qualitative evaluation has explored the impact of the pilots on the attitudes, motivations and actions of participants, and will also examine the effectiveness of delivery. We expect to publish this report in spring 2007.
	In November 2005, the latest date for which information is available, more than 11,000 eligible parents were in receipt of the in-work credit.

Income Support

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many claims against claimants of income support who have been overpaid were stayed awaiting the decision in B  v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2005] EWCA Civ 929 by the Court of Appeal; how many of those have since been pursued; how many have been written off; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: No cases have been stayed as a result of B  v. Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. The Court of Appeal found in favour of The Secretary of State in this case, and a petition has now been lodged against that decision to the European Court of Human Rights. Pending the outcome of that petition, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on the case.

Jobcentre Plus

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how frequently Jobcentre Plus staff are provided with training to update them on changes to the process of claiming incapacity benefit and disability living allowance.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 19 October 2006:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how frequently Jobcentre Plus staff are provided with training to update them on changes to the process of claiming incapacity benefit and disability living allowance. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	All our staff undergo comprehensive training prior to answering calls from customers wishing to make a new benefit claim, including claims for Incapacity Benefit (IB) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA). When changes are made to the process of claiming IB or DLA we ensure staff are informed and receive appropriate training at the time.
	Claims for DLA are dealt with by the Disability and Carers Service (DCS) and enquiries about DLA will normally be referred to DCS.

Jobcentre Plus

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many Jobcentre Plus advisers  (a) there are,  (b) there are per 1,000 population and  (c) there are per square mile in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas.

Jim Murphy: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the chief executive of Jobcentre Plus, Lesley Strathie. I have asked her to provide the hon. Member with the information requested.
	 Letter from Lesley Strathie, dated 19 October 2006:
	The Secretary of State has asked me to reply to your question asking how many Jobcentre Plus advisers a) there are, b) there are per 1,000 population and c) there are per square mile in (i) rural and (ii) non-rural areas. This is something which falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	Between April 2005 and February 2006 there were 9,285 full time equivalent Personal Advisers. The latest census figures (April 2001) show the population of England, Wales and Scotland as 57.1 million. This equates to one adviser per 6000 population or 0.167 per thousand. It is not possible to state the number of advisers there are per square mile in rural and non rural areas, as this information is not routinely collected and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.
	At the inception of Jobcentre Plus in 2002, Districts developed service delivery plans in consultation with local stakeholders, taking into account local communities and population densities, availability and cost of public transport and the potential for outreach services. Adviser numbers were allocated proportionately to the customer load in these outlets.
	I hope this is helpful.

Mental Health

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what representations he has received on proposals in the Welfare Reform Bill to assist claimants with mental or behavioural disorders.

Jim Murphy: We have consulted widely during the development of our welfare reform proposals. From January to April 2006 we carried out a formal public consultation, receiving over 600 responses addressing the full range of welfare reform issues. Many of the responses dealt with helping people with mental health conditions or behavioural disorders into work.
	We continue to liaise closely with a wide range of stakeholders, lobby groups and service users, meeting as many as possible. For example, I have recently been on visits to projects run by MIND, MENCAP and Rethink, and have hosted a meeting of service users with mental health conditions. This liaison has helped us to understand and appreciate the issues faced by our customers and the practical implications of policy changes.
	Meanwhile, we have undertaken a comprehensive review of the Personal Capability Assessment process. As part of this work we have reviewed the mental health assessment so that it more accurately reflects the challenges faced by those suffering from mental health conditions, learning disabilities and behavioural disorders. To ensure that we get our reforms right the review has been carried out by medical and stakeholder experts in mental health, learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders. The review group's report was published on 10 October and I have accepted their recommendations.

Pension Mis-selling

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many cases of pension mis-selling there have been in each of the last 20 years; and what percentage of the total workforce each figure represents.

Edward Balls: I have been asked to reply.
	This information is not held centrally. In 1994-95 the financial services regulators set out a programme of review by authorised firms of personal pensions sold between April 1988 and June 1994. The review was intended to identify cases where people were badly advised to opt out of, not join, and/or transfer funds from an occupational pension scheme in favour of a personal pension.

Pensioner Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what percentage of pensioners have lived in poverty in each region in each of the last 20 years, broken down by constituency.

James Purnell: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2004/05. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The data source does not allow us to provide robust estimates below the level of Government office region. There is no suitable data source for years prior to 1994-95.
	The number and percentage of pensioners in households with low incomes, by Government office regions, Scotland and Wales over the period 1994-95 to 2004-05, are presented in tables 1 and 2.
	
		
			  Table 1: Number of pensioners survey 
			  Million 
			   Three-year averages 
			   1994-95  to  1996-97  1995-96  to  1997-98  1996-97  to  1998-99  1997-98  to  1998-99  1998-99  to  2000-01  1999-2000  to  2001-02  2000-01  to  2002-03  2001-02  to  2003-04  2002-03  to  2004-05 
			 North East 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.13 0.13 0.12 0.11 0.10 0.08 
			 North West and Merseyside 0.31 0.32 0.33 0.32 0.30 0.28 0.27 0.26 0.24 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 0.25 0.26 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.24 0.21 0.19 0.17 
			 East Midlands 0.19 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.20 0.19 0.19 0.18 0.17 
			 West Midlands 0.22 0.25 0.26 0.25 0.25 0.24 0.25 0.23 0.21 
			 Eastern 0.29 0.25 0.26 0.26 0.26 0.24 0.23 0.22 0.21 
			 London 0.29 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.29 0.28 0.25 0.24 0.21 
			 South East 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.34 0.33 0.31 0.30 0.29 0.27 
			 South West 0.25 0.27 0.27 0.26 0.25 0.24 0.23 0.21 0.19 
			 Wales 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.14 0.13 0.13 0.12 0.12 0.10 
			 Scotland 0.24 0.24 0.24 0.22 0.22 0.21 0.19 0.18 0.17 
			  Notes:  1. Numbers are provided using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with any previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, moving averages will show less variation than single-year estimates. 2. Table shows number of pensioners in millions rounded to the nearest 10,000.  3. In this answer low income is determined for individuals as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median.   Source:  Family Resources. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 2: Percentage of pensioners survey 
			   Three-year averages 
			   1994-95  to  1996-97  1995-96  to  1997-98  1996-97  to  1998-99  1997-98  to  1998-99  1998-99  to  2000-01  1999-2000  to  2001-02  2000-01  to  2002-03  2001-02  to  2003-04  2002-03  to  2004-05 
			 North East 31 31 30 28 27 25 24 20 18 
			 North West and Merseyside 26 26 27 26 25 24 23 21 20 
			 Yorkshire and the Humber 29 29 31 30 29 27 24 22 19 
			 East Midlands 26 28 28 28 27 26 25 23 22 
			 West Midlands 27 27 28 27 27 26 26 24 22 
			 Eastern 28 26 28 27 27 24 23 22 21 
			 London 28 29 30 30 28 28 25 24 21 
			 South East 25 24 24 24 23 22 21 20 18 
			 South West 26 28 27 27 25 24 23 21 18 
			 Wales 24 25 25 25 24 23 21 21 18 
			 Scotland 28 27 27 26 25 23 22 20 18 
			  Notes:  1. Percentages are provided using a three-year moving average, as single-year estimates do not provide a robust guide to year-on-year changes. Hence, figures are not consistent with any previously published single-year estimates and there may be differences in changes over time. In circumstances such as a change in trend, moving averages will show less variation than single-year estimates.  2. In this answer low income is determined for individuals as living in households with incomes below 60 per cent. of the GB median.   Source:  Family Resources.

Pensioner Poverty

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the average weekly income was of the three poorest deciles of pensioners in each of the last 20 years.

James Purnell: Specific information regarding low income for Great Britain is available in Households Below Average Income 1994/95-2004/05. The threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median income is the most commonly used in reporting trends in low income.
	The survey from which estimates are provided started in 1994-95. There is no suitable data source for years prior to 1994-95.
	The median weekly household income of the three lowest deciles of pensioners for the years 1994-95 to 2004-05, are presented in table 1.
	
		
			  Table 1: Median weekly household income in pounds per week equivalised, of pensioners in the lowest three deciles1994-95 to 2004-05, after housing costs 
			   Decile 1  Decile 2  Decile 3 
			 1994-95 93 122 136 
			 1995-96 98 123 137 
			 1996-97 100 126 141 
			 1997-98 101 128 143 
			 1998-99 102 130 147 
			 1999-2000 106 137 155 
			 2000-01 113 145 165 
			 2001-02 116 153 176 
			 2002-03 122 159 184 
			 2003-04 121 167 191 
			 2004-05 130 177 203 
			  Notes: 1. Median weekly household incomes are shown as equivalised pounds in 2004-05 prices. Equivalisation is the process by which household income is adjusted by household size and composition as a proxy for material living standards. 2. The median has been used as the measure of the average income in the three lowest deciles in line with HBAI conventions. This median measure is preferred to the mean because it measures the central income of the group and for the lowest decile it is less influenced by possibly unrepresentative outliers. 3. All estimates are subject to sampling error and response bias and small changes between years may be influenced by these. While results for individual years may be sensitive to the way in which household incomes are adjusted for size and composition, the picture of changes over time is less sensitive to this.  Source: Family Resources Survey

Pensioner Poverty

Harry Cohen: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much the Government are spending to tackle pensioner poverty.

James Purnell: As a result of the measures we have introduced since 1997, we will be spending 10.5 billion more on pensioners this year than would otherwise have been the case. Our policies target help on the poorest pensioners in particular, with over 5 billion of the additional money going to the poorest third of pensioners. Between 1996-97 and 2004-05, the number of pensioners living in relative low income, fell from 2.8 million to 1.8 million, and a pensioner in Britain today is no more likely to be in poverty than anyone else.
	In total, in 2006-07 we plan to spend 78.8 billion in cash benefits for pensioners. Additional help is provided through benefits in kind such as free prescriptions, eye tests, bus travel and television licences, and help with home insulation. Around 14 billion will be spent on benefits targeted on low-income pensioners: pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit. This ensures that no single pensioner need live on less than 114.05 a week, and no couple on less than 174.05 a week.

Utility Bills

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what recent assessment he has made of the impact of rises in utility bills since 2003 on pensioner incomes.

James Purnell: To ensure that all pensioner households are able to keep their homes warm throughout the winter period we introduced winter fuel payments in 1997. We have increased these from 20 in 1997-08 to the current value of 200 for people between 60 and 79 years of age, and 300 for the over 80s.
	The Government are committed to combating poverty among today's pensioners, for example by uprating the standard minimum guarantee in pension credit in line with earnings growth. In our Pension Reform White Paper we made a commitment to continue with this policy for the long term as part of the new overall pensions settlement.
	Between 1996-07 and 2004-05 (the latest year for which pensioner income is available) incomes increased by 25 per cent. in real terms, compared with a 15 per cent. real terms increase in fuel prices and water bills between 1996-07 and 2006. It is important to note that while pensioner incomes tend to increase on a linear basis, with 4 per cent. real growth between 2003-04 and 2004-05 building on the growth in earlier years, utility prices tend to fluctuate. According to Office for National Statistics data, fuel prices and water bills fell by 9 per cent. in real terms between 1996 and 2003, before increasing by 27 per cent. between 2003 and 2006.

Work (Fatal Accidents)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many fatal accidents at work there were in each of the past 30 years; and what the rate of such accidents was per 100,000 workers in each year.

Anne McGuire: Available information is set out in the following table.
	The figures reflect a steady downward trend in the incidence rate of the work force fatally injured while at work. The 2005-06 fatal injury rate is the lowest on record, and within the latest comparative data across the European Union, Great Britain has the lowest rate of workplace fatal injury per 100,000 workers with an incidence rate of 1.1 compared with an average of 2.5 for the European Union.
	The Health and Safety Commission continues to deliver its risk-based strategy to improve Great Britain's health and safety performance through a targeted programme of interventions that concentrates resources on the highest areas of incidence and the poorest performers.
	
		
			  Reporting regime/Year( 1)  Number of fatal injuries  Rate of fatal  injury per  100,000 workers( 2) 
			  Employeesvarious pieces of legislation, but chiefly the Factories Act 1961   
			 1976(3) 584 2.4 
			 1977 524 2.2 
			 1978 499 2.1 
			 1979 492 2.0 
			 1980 440 1.8 
			
			  Employees and the self-employed (workers)the Notification of Accidents and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (NADOR) 1980   
			 1981 495 2.1 
			 1982 520 2.3 
			 1983 513 2.3 
			 1984 498 2.1 
			 1985 471 2.0 
			
			  Employees and the self-employed (workers)the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1985, including those injuries in the offshore oil and gas industry collected under offshore installations safety legislation, before 1996-97   
			 1986-87 407 1.7 
			 1987-88 445 1.8 
			 1988-89 (4)609 2.5 
			 1989-90 475 1.9 
			 1990-91 433 1.7 
			 1991-92 368 1.5 
			 1992-93 339 1.4 
			 1993-94 296 1.2 
			 1994-95 272 1.1 
			 1995-96 258 1.0 
			
			  Employees and the self-employed (workers)the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) 1995. Revised arrangements introduced the reporting of physical injuries resulting from acts of violence suffered by people at work   
			 1996-97 287 1.1 
			 1997-98 274 1.0 
			 1998-99 253 0.9 
			 1999-2000 220 0.8 
			 2000-01 292 1.0 
			 2001-02 251 0.9 
			 2002-03 227 0.8 
			 2003-04 236 0.8 
			 2004-05 223 0.8 
			 2005-06(5) 212 0.7 
			 (1) Figures from 1976 to 1985 are on a calendar year basis. Figures from 1986-87 onwards are based on a planning year 1 April-31 March. (2) Rates of injury for the period 1976 to 1980 may be subject to slight underestimation, as the numeratorthe reported fatal injuries for the periodhad lower coverage than in subsequent legislation (and principally, excluded employees and those self-employed in health, public administration and education). The denominatorthe available employment estimates for the periodtakes no account of this reduction in coverage, in order to maximise consistency across the whole series. (3) In addition to the fatalities presented in the table, a further 123 deaths in both 1978 and 1979, and 139 deaths in 1980, were reported voluntarily under circumstances covered by the Health and Safety at Work Act, but not statutorily reportable at that time. (4) Includes the 167 fatalities in the Piper Alpha disaster, 6 July 1988. (5) Figures for 2005-06 are provisional and subject to change.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Brownfield Sites

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark) of 6 July 2006,  Official Report, columns 1300-10W, on brownfield development, what the figures for 2004 are for each other local authority in England.

Yvette Cooper: The information available is from Land Use Change Statistics. I have placed in the Library of the House a table showing the information requested. Figures for the London boroughs were provided in the answer to the hon. Member for Tunbridge Wells (Greg Clark), 18 September 2006,  Official Report, columns 2458-63W. In some local authorities the proportions are not reliable enough to be shown for a single year. Proportions are also shown for the period 2001 to 2004 as a whole.

Council Tax

Dennis Skinner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what the annual change was in the level of council tax in each district council in the East Midlands in each year since 1996-97; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Woolas: The annual percentage change in the level of council tax by each district council in the East Midlands since 1996-97 is tabled as follows. Figures are based solely on the district's element of the area council tax bill, including parish precepts, and exclude amounts for precepting authorities (such as county, police and fire).
	
		
			  Annual percentage change in the level of council tax by each district council in the East Midlands since 1996-97( 1) 
			 Authority  1996-97  1997-98  1998-99  1999-2000  2000-01  2001-02 
			 Amber Valley borough council 12.3 14.6 9.4 3.6 8.5 7.3 
			 Ashfield district council 14.9 10.3 2.8 9.8 5.5 5.7 
			 Bassetlaw district council 13.4 5.8 -9.0 16.3 4.0 4.5 
			 Blaby district council 28.6 17.7 2.2 3.0 7.4 5.8 
			 Bolsover district council 41.7 5.3 3.2 4.5 7.3 3.9 
			 Boston borough council 12.5 8.3 4.2 2.9 2.7 5.2 
			 Broxtowe borough council 2.6 4.7 5.9 6.5 9.9 5.6 
			 Charnwood borough council 60.3 25.7 -5.6 6.4 6.8 3.5 
			 Chesterfield borough council 13.6 13.3 8.9 4.5 2.3 4.4 
			 Nottingham city council(2)6.0 3.9 6.5 
			 Corby borough council 41.1 35.3 5.1 4.1 4.5 4.4 
			 Daventry district council 32.4 13.7 -4.6 -17.8 2.6 35.4 
			 Derby city council(2)   8.2 7.4 4.9 5.5 
			 Derbyshire Dales district council 18.9 9.3 10.6 4.5 5.3 5.3 
			 East Lindsey district council 13.2 14.7 5.5 1.0 3.8 4.3 
			 East Northamptonshire district council 3.8 7.0 7.3 1.1 8.9 3.3 
			 Erewash borough council -5.2 23.8 1.7 5.0 8.5 8.5 
			 Gedling borough council 1.9 5.3 5.2 3.9 4.0 3.1 
			 Harborough district council -3.9 7.2 9.6 8.8 3.9 6.5 
			 High Peak borough council 6.0 2.1 0.7 4.4 17.6 2.9 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth borough council 92.0 21.9 3.4 5.0 12.6 8.8 
			 Kettering borough council 29.0 21.7 8.8 3.6 3.0 4.9 
			 Leicester city council(2)   26.0 3.5 10.7 4.9 
			 Lincoln city council 3.6 6.8 19.9 4.5 9.9 6.5 
			 Mansfield district council -27.0 47.9 0.0 24.1 7.1 9.7 
			 Melton borough council 5.4 13.2 2.9 4.5 4.5 6.8 
			 Newark and Sherwood district council 12.1 6.9 6.1 -0.2 4.3 2.5 
			 North East Derbyshire district council 11.4 6.4 10.3 4.6 8.5 4.4 
			 North Kesteven district council 23.1 7.5 7.6 4.5 6.2 6.6 
			 North West Leicestershire district council 9.9 6.7 13.2 5.2 5.0 5.6 
			 Northampton borough council 0.2 -9.2 3.5 7.9 6.9 5.9 
			 Oadby and Wigston borough council -4.8 0.8 0.0 9.8 14.6 9.9 
			 Rushcliffe borough council 3.6 2.2 54.1 2.3 4.0 6.1 
			 Rutland district council(2)  0.0 8.3 9.8 8.3 6.1 
			 South Derbyshire district council 17.0 8.2 6.0 4.3 10.1 7.9 
			 South Holland district council 11.4 10.3 -0.5 2.9 -0.4 8.5 
			 South Kesteven district council 3.7 17.1 5.7 1.6 2.1 4.4 
			 South Northamptonshire district council 16.5 9.5 7.7 3.8 2.6 3.2 
			 Wellingborough borough council  -143.7 0.0 0.0 100.1 62.5 
			 West Lindsey district council 31.0 22.3 0.4 1.8 2.1 7.9 
		
	
	
		
			   2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 
			 Amber Valley borough council 5.8 2.1 3.3 4.5 2.8 
			 Ashfield district council 5.9 2.9 2.4 3.0 2.9 
			 Bassetlaw district council 4.5 15.6 3.3 3.4 3.0 
			 Blaby district council 6.0 6.6 4.7 4.7 3.5 
			 Bolsover district council 5.8 5.3 7.2 5.2 6.4 
			 Boston borough council 12.4 7.9 9.8 3.0 5.0 
			 Broxtowe borough council 13.1 1.8 3.7 2.6 3.4 
			 Charnwood borough council 6.1 5.3 6.8 1.7 0.1 
			 Chesterfield borough council 4.8 3.7 2.9 3.0 4.9 
			 Nottingham city council(2) 6.5 6.5 4.6 4.6 4.4 
			 Corby borough council 14.7 5.0 5.0 4.7 3.1 
			 Daventry district council 37.2 18.4 13.8 8.3 3.5 
			 Derby city council(2) 4.9 8.0 0.0 4.4 2.4 
			 Derbyshire Dales district council 5.7 18.2 5.2 3.9 5.1 
			 East Lindsey district council 8.6 3.4 2.7 3.4 2.5 
			 East Northamptonshire district council 4.6 8.1 6.6 4.4 3.3 
			 Erewash borough council 5.9 3.1 7.7 4.8 5.1 
			 Gedling borough council 9.4 3.3 7.1 4.7 3.0 
			 Harborough district council 14.8 7.7 5.6 3.6 3.9 
			 High Peak borough council 5.2 8.6 4.8 4.2 3.4 
			 Hinckley and Bosworth borough council 7.5 6.9 8.4 6.7 3.4 
			 Kettering borough council 16.6 3.0 9.0 4.7 5.2 
			 Leicester city council(2) 5.3 5.3 4.9 2.5 2.6 
			 Lincoln city council 12.0 9.9 7.5 5.0 5.0 
			 Mansfield district council 5.4 4.3 2.4 2.1 0.6 
			 Melton borough council 15.3 7.1 6.9 4.9 5.2 
			 Newark and Sherwood district council 7.4 3.7 2.7 2.6 4.1 
			 North East Derbyshire district council 8.8 3.5 4.2 5.4 4.2 
			 North Kesteven district council 9.2 4.6 5.8 4.1 4.7 
			 North West Leicestershire district council 9.6 6.9 3.9 4.0 5.0 
			 Northampton borough council 7.9 6.9 4.9 2.9 4.9 
			 Oadby and Wigston borough council 8.8 6.9 5.9 4.8 3.5 
			 Rushcliffe borough council 15.0 6.7 5.7 13.7 5.1 
			 Rutland district council(2) 5.6 5.8 4.5 4.9 4.8 
			 South Derbyshire district council 4.3 4.1 4.8 4.8 4.8 
			 South Holland district council 8.0 6.0 5.4 4.6 5.9 
			 South Kesteven district council 9.4 17.3 6.7 4.7 5.0 
			 South Northamptonshire district council 3.0 7.7 7.9 4.7 5.3 
			 Wellingborough borough council 66.1 4.8 7.7 4.9 4.7 
			 West Lindsey district council 9.0 13.1 8.9 7.7 3.7 
			 (1) Figures are based solely on the district's element of the bill, including parish precepts, and exclude precepting authorities (such as county, police and fire).  (2) Figures are not included for the years prior to when unitary authorities changed responsibility.

Housing (Migration)

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answer to the hon. Member for Meriden (Mrs. Spelman) of 27 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2059W, and the answer of 27 March 2006,  Official Report, column 823W, on housing, what estimate of net migration per year forms the basis of household projections attributable to net migration.

Yvette Cooper: The 2003 based household projections for England are based on the 2003 official population projections by the Government Actuary's Department. This projects annualised average net migration into England of 124,000 over the next 28 years.

Planning Applications

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government which planning applications from Estate Partnerships or its clients were considered by the Deputy Prime Minister when he was Secretary of State responsible for planning.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 11 September 2006
	In line with our published propriety guidance, the responsibility for taking planning decisions is arranged to ensure that Ministers do not take decisions where a conflict of interest may arise. Where a potential conflict is identified, decisions are taken by another planning Minister. The same approach applied to planning decisions taken prior to the formation of the Department for Communities and Local Government when the Deputy Prime Minister was responsible for planning.
	Our records of planning applications and planning appeals considered by the Deputy Prime Minister and other planning Ministers, show no applications from Estate Partnerships.
	Information regarding which people and organisations are clients of any particular company including Estate Partnerships is not collected.

Planning Gain Supplement

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government pursuant to the answers to the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar of 6 March 2006,  Official Report, column 1105W and 16 March 2006,  Official Report, column 2417W, and the answer of 17 July 2006,  Official Report, column 158W, on Planning Gain Supplement, when the summary of responses will be published.

John Healey: The Government will publish copies of the responses to the consultation alongside the summary of responses in due course. Further announcements on PGS's implementation will be made by the end of the year.

Regeneration (Thames Gateway)

John Gummer: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether English Partnerships in collaboration with regional development agencies plan to produce a brownfield land reclamation strategy specifically for the Thames Gateway.

Yvette Cooper: A National Brownfield Strategy is being developed by English Partnerships with the aim of increasing the reuse of brownfield land. Good progress is being made. As part of this work English Partnerships will publish a practitioner's guide to brownfield development before the end of the year and will hold a stakeholder workshop to discuss the policy issues raised through earlier consultations on the strategy.
	In the Thames Gateway strategies for the development of brownfield land are being developed by the local delivery bodies as part of the regeneration frameworks for their areas. The regeneration frameworks are being drawn up in consultation with English Partnerships and the relevant regional development agency. More than 80 per cent. of new development in the Thames Gateway is being delivered on brownfield land.

Small Business Rate Relief

Mark Prisk: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many businesses qualified for the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme in  (a) 2003-04,  (b) 2004-05 and  (c) 2005-06.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Small Business Rate Relief

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  how many firms  (a) were eligible for and  (b) claimed small business rate relief in England in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(2)  what the average business rates bill was for firms  (a) claiming and  (b) not claiming small business rate relief in England in the most recent 12 months for which figures are available;
	(3)  what the estimated revenue was from business rates from small firms in England in the most recent year for which figures are available;
	(4)  how many properties on the ratings list qualified for empty business rates relief in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Phil Woolas: The information requested is not available and could be collected only at disproportionate cost.

Suburban Development Research

Eric Pickles: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what funding within his responsibilities has been allocated to the Cambridge University Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies on research into suburban development issues.

Yvette Cooper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Department made a contribution of 35,000 in October 2004 to the EPSRC SOLUTIONS (Sustainability of Land Use and Transport in Outer Neighbourhoods) project being carried out by the Cambridge University Martin Centre for Architectural and Urban Studies. This is an independent research project which is mainly funded by the academic research body looking at design, transport systems and the built form in cities. It has not yet reached any conclusions or recommendations.

TREASURY

Asset Freezing

Phyllis Starkey: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his Department has investigated how John Ware of BBC Panorama had sight of the draft report from the Treasury's Asset Freezing Working Group; whether this report has been completed; and when it will be published.

Edward Balls: It has been the policy of successive Governments not to comment on matters pertaining to leaked and allegedly leaked documents or on specific security matters.

Council of Economic Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's civil servants work full time to support members of his Council of Economic Advisers; and what the pay bands are of each civil servant.

John Healey: The Council of Economic Advisers to the Chancellor of the Exchequer is supported by four full-time staff: two at range D and two at range C.

Electoral Registration

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of eligible voters missing from the electoral register of each Parliamentary constituency in Nottinghamshire.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 October 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your question concerning the number of eligible voters missing from the Electoral Register of each Parliamentary Constituency in Nottinghamshire. (94488)
	The Office for National Statistics does not provide estimates of the number of eligible voters missing from the Electoral Register. However, we can compare the estimated usual resident population aged 18 and over from the last Census with estimates of those who were registered to vote at the time. By dividing the latter by the former, a ratio can be derived and this is shown in the attached table for the various parliamentary constituencies in Nottinghamshire.
	These are the closest available figures to those you have requested. The resulting data are not reliable estimates of registration rates and should be treated with appropriate caution. At best, they might help to identify where there might be issues with registration rates but you should also take account of local factors, for example the presence of a prison in an area.
	There are various limitations with this type of comparison. The UK parliamentary electorate excludes citizens of countries other than the UK, Ireland, and the Commonwealth and includes UK citizens resident abroad. In addition not everyone who is usually resident is entitled to vote (prisoners, members of the House of Lords, etc. are not eligible) and people who have more than one address may register in more than one place. Also there is inevitably some double counting of the registered electorate as electoral registration officers vary in how quickly they remove people from the registers after they have moved away from an area or after they have died. The latter is the main reason why in some constituencies the population aged 18 and over will be less than those registered to vote. These factors may have a different impact from place to place.
	Population data by Parliamentary Constituency are not available on an annual basis, consequently these tables have been prepared from 2001 Census data. In order to give an estimate of the number of electors on Census day (29 April 2001), a weighted average is taken of the 1 February 2001 and 1 December 2001 electoral data. The census database was subsequently revised and more details on these revisions can be found at: www.statistics.gov.uk/lastudies.
	
		
			  Nottinghamshire parliamentary constituencies: those aged 18 and over in the 2001 Census, number of registered parliamentary electors, and ratio of those aged 18 and over in the Census( 1a)  to the number of registered electors (in descending order of the size of the ratio) 
			Parliamentary Electors  
			  Parliamentary constituency  2001 Census People aged 1 8 years and over: (29 April 2001)  Registered electorate:  1 February 2001  Registered electorate:  1 December 2001  Weighted comparator( 2)  Ratio( 1b) 
			 Nottingham South 77,517 73,486 65,601 71,222 0.919 
			 Nottingham East 66,567 65,716 54,884 62,606 0.940 
			 Nottingham North 63,743 64,863 57,114 62,638 0.983 
			 Gedling 69,929 68,985 68,873 68,953 0.986 
			 Rushcliffe 82,675 82,234 82,010 82,170 0.994 
			 Bassetlaw 69,454 69,011 69,565 69,170 0.996 
			 Broxtowe 74,418 74,281 74,019 74,206 0.997 
			 Newark 71J63 71,191 71,704 71,338 1.002 
			 Ashfield 73,651 74,023 74,293 74,101 i .006 
			 Sherwood 75,182 75,874 75,81.9 75,858 1 .009 
			 Mansfield 66,151 67,576 68,829 67,936 1.027 
			 (1a )The UK resident population aged 18 and over is not the same as the number of people eligible to vote: Citizens of countries outside the UK and the Commonwealth are not eligible to vote in parliamentary elections. UK citizens abroad are eligible to vote in Parliamentary elections. Persons with more than one address may register more than once (for example students at term and home addresses). Other restrictions on voting eligibility also apply. (1b )A ratio of greater than 1 implies that the number of registered electors is greater than the number of people aged 18 and over in the Census. This is caused mainly by definitional differences between the two populations and double-counting in the electoral register. Therefore comparison between the Census population and registered electors and the implied ratios can only be regarded as a guide. (2 )This is an estimate of the number of electors at Census day (29 April 2001), It is calculated by taking a 'weighted' average of the number of electors registered prior to and following this point. The formula for this weighting is: Feb '01 + (. 87/303 x (Dec '01 - Feb '01))  Source: Office for National Statistics

EU Accession States

Keith Vaz: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of individuals that have arrived in the UK from the new European Union member states since 1 May 2004 are employed.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 October 2006:
	As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your Parliamentary Question about the numbers and percentages of people who arrived from the new EU countries to the UK since 2004. (95006)
	The attached table gives the numbers of people and employment rates for the 3 month period ending June 2006. The estimates in the table relate to people who were born in the 10 accession countries, and who gave their year of arrival in the United Kingdom as either 2004 or 2005. Comparable statistics are not yet available for 2006.
	Estimates are taken from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). As with any sample survey, estimates from the LFS are subject to a margin of uncertainty.
	
		
			  Number and percentage of people whose country of birth is from the ten countries which acceded to the EU in 2004, and whose year of arrival in the United Kingdom was 2004 and 2005( 1)  United Kingdom, not seasonally adjusted , three months ending June 2006 
			   Total A10 countries( 5) 
			 Total population(2) (Thousand) 184 
			 In employment of working age(3) (Thousand) 142 
			 Employment rates(4) (Percentage) 88.0 
			 (1 )Year of arrival in the UK for the years 2004, 2005. (2) Population in private households, student halls of residence and NHS accommodation and includes people under aged 16 and those above working age. (3 )Men aged 16 to 64 and women aged 16 to 59. (4) Total in employment of working age as a percentage all of working age. (5) The ten EEC accession countries are: Malta, Cyprus, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia and Slovenia.  Source:  ONS Labour Force Survey (LFS)

Helplines

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to the answer of 5 June 2006,  Official Report, column 188W, on tax credits, how many engaged calls to the tax credits helpline were not placed in a queue to speak to an adviser in each month.

Dawn Primarolo: It might be helpful if I expand on footnote (3) in my answer of 5 June 2006. A call attempt will be passed to an adviser where one is available, however if no adviser is available then the call attempt will be placed in a queue. When maximum queuing capacity has been reached then the caller will be played an engaged tone and not placed in a queue. Therefore in that answer, all those receiving an engaged tone from the tax credits helpline were not placed in a queue.

Improving Migration Population Statistics Programme

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  how much has been spent on the Improving Migration Population Statistics programme each year since the 2001 census, broken down by main budget heading;
	(2)  how much was spent on the Office for National Statistics' Task Group to investigate migration using central data sources, broken down by main budget heading.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician, who has been asked to reply.
	 Letter from Karen Dunnell, dated 19 October 2006:
	As National Statistician I have been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Questions asking how much has been spent on the Improving Migration and Population Statistics programme each year since the 2001 Census, broken down by main budget headings and what expenditure was on the Office for National Statistics' Task Group to investigate migration using central sources, broken down by main budget headings. (94222, 94223)
	The Improving Migration and Population Statistics (IMPS) project was established during 2004 to research improvements to the statistics to avoid, for the 2011 Census, the problems that occurred when there was a large difference between the 2001 Census figures and the rolled-forward mid-year population estimates.
	The amount spent is shown in the table below, for each financial year since the project was set up according to the following key strands of work:
	IMPS researchincluding research into improvements to internal migration statistics and collaborative work with Local Authorities to investigate the potential for making greater use of administrative data sources to improve local estimates
	Migrationincluding work to take forward the recommendations of the National Statistics Quality Review (NSQR) of international migration statistics and the recent Task Force
	Population definition issues
	Figures for 2006/7 relate to the projected budget for the current financial year, rather than the amount spent to date.
	
		
			  000 
			   2004-05  2005-06  2006-07 (planned) 
			 IMPS research 442 541 508 
			 Migration 166 283 429 
			 Population definitions 62 85 119 
			 Total 670 909 1056 
		
	
	The Inter-departmental Task Force on Migration Statistics was established by ONS in May 2006. The cost to ONS of supporting the Task Force was approximately 110,000. This was met from the Improving Migration and Population Statistics budget.
	In addition to support costs, there were six meetings of the Task Force at which officials from across government were present. The total cost of these meetings to government departments was approximately 20,000.

Individual Savings Accounts

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made with the review of individual savings accounts; and when he expects the review to be concluded.

Edward Balls: Officials have held discussions with a wide range of stakeholders, including ISA providers and their representative bodies.
	The Government are considering the representations made.

Local Authority Efficiency Targets

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to set more stringent efficiency targets for local authorities.

Stephen Timms: In July 2006 the Government published Releasing the resources to meet the challenges ahead: value for money in the 2007 Comprehensive Spending Review (Cm 6889). This set out the Government's programme for efficiency, transforming service delivery, pay and work force planning, zero-based reviews of baseline expenditure and improved asset management across the whole of government for the CSR07 period. It is intended that the value for money programme for local government in CSR07 will build on the value for money programme under way in the current spending review period, and secure greater cashable efficiencies to meet new priorities.

Professor Tim Besley

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what involvement the Economic Secretary to the Treasury had in the appointment process of Professor Tim Besley to the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England.

Edward Balls: Section 13 (4) of the Bank of England Act 1998 states that members of the Monetary Policy Committee shall be appointed by the Chancellor only if he is satisfied that the person has knowledge or experience which is likely to be relevant to the Committee's functions.

Special Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the written ministerial statement of 24 July 2006,  Official Report, column 90WS, on special advisers, to which individuals in his Department the four pay bands relate.

John Healey: It would not be appropriate to disclose personal and confidential information relating to the pay of any member of staff.

Special Advisers

Mark Hoban: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many of his Department's civil servants work full-time to support departmental special advisers; and what the pay bands are of each such civil servant.

John Healey: The special advisers to the Chancellor of the Exchequer are supported by three full-time staff: one at range E, one at range D and one at range C.

Terrorist Assets/Finance

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the occasions on which the assets of  (a) individual terrorists or  (b) terrorist organisations have been frozen as a result of decisions (i) by him and (ii) by the EU in cases where all proceedings are complete.

Edward Balls: Since 2001, a total of 85 individuals and 58 entities have had their assets frozen under the UK's Terrorism (United Nations Measures) Order 2001. Of the 85 individuals, 68 were designated domestically by the Treasury and 17 by the EU. Of the 58 entities, 51 were designated domestically by the Treasury and seven by the EU. In cases where individuals or entities have been designated both by the UK and by the EU, the figures above refer to where the decision was first taken. In addition, 359 individuals and 124 entities have been designated under the Al-Qaeda and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order 2002 on suspicion of having links with Al-Qaeda or the Taliban. The United Nations Security Council maintains a list of such persons designated at the UN. Details about individual asset freezes applying in the UK, either through international or domestic action, are available on the Bank of England website at http://www.bankof england.co.uk/publications/financialsanctions/

Terrorist Assets/Finance

George Osborne: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has published the comprehensive progress report on countering money laundering and terrorist finance.

Edward Balls: Progress reports on countering money laundering and terrorist finance have been published in October 2002 (Combating the Financing of Terrorism: A Report on UK Action); October 2004 (Anti-Money Laundering Strategy); at the 2005 Pre-Budget Report (Statement on Terrorist Finance) and provided in a written statement to the House on 10 October.
	The Treasury has also launched public consultations this year on the implementation of the Third EU Money Laundering Directive and on the regulation of Money Service Businesses.
	In my statement to the House on 10 October 2006,  Official Report, columns 11-13WS, I said that the Treasury plans to produce a detailed strategy document setting out the Government's programme to deter, detect and disrupt the financing of terrorism around the end of the year.

HEALTH

Advanced Nurse Practitioners

Steve Webb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when a register of advanced nurse practitioners will be established; with particular reference to those employed in NHS walk-in centres.

Andy Burnham: A public consultation on healthcare professional regulation was launched on 14 July 2006 and runs until 10 November 2006. The consultation comprises the Chief Medical Officer's proposals for medical regulation in Good Doctors, Safer Patients and the Department of Health's parallel review of The regulation of the non-medical healthcare professions.
	One of the recommendations proposes that:
	'post-registration qualifications should be recorded in the register where the specialisation is relevant to patient care and patient safety, can be defined in terms of extra skills acquired, and is at a level substantially beyond basic registration.'
	Comments on all the recommendations are welcome. Copies of both documents are available in the Library and on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/Consultations/LiveConsultations.

Benefit Payments

Andrew Selous: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the  (a) Single Assessment Process and  (b) Children's Assessment Forum will be used by (i) Department for Work and Pensions staff in assessing benefit entitlement and (ii) local authorities in assessing eligibility for (A) RADAR keys and (B) blue badges; and if she will make a statement on steps taken to reduce form-filling required by patients.

Ivan Lewis: [holding answer 18 September 2006): The single assessment process is used to determine an individual's need for adult social care. It is not appropriate for assessing entitlement to state benefits, Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation (RADAR) keys or blue badges. Policy for children's services rests with the Department for Education and Skills.
	We welcome any initiative that seeks to reduce the burden of red tape, ensures that all collections of data are efficient and eliminates any duplication of effort.

Brain Tumours

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients in the Peterborough and Stamford NHS hospitals trust area have been diagnosed with brain tumours in each year since 2001; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: The information requested is not held centrally.

Bucks Hospitals NHS Trust

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many special severance payments have been made by Bucks Hospitals NHS Trust in each year since 2001.

Rosie Winterton: The information requested is not held centrally.

Carbon Copies

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will issue guidance on the use of handwritten self-carbon copying forms for listing medication by name and dose in order to ensure legible prints are copied to  (a) general practitioners,  (b) patients and  (c) other institutions; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham: A Vision for Pharmacy in the New NHS, published in July 2003, advocated the strengthening of communication about patients' medicines between hospitals, community pharmacists and general practitioners. The national health service national prescribing centre (NPC), as part of the sharing of best practice through the medicines management collaborative, has developed guidance concerning the timely and accurate sharing of information about patients' medicines when patients are transferred between care settings. The guidance is available on the NPC website at:www.npc.co.uk/mms/FiveMinGuides/index.htm. The method by which information is transferred is a matter for local decision. Trust chief pharmacists, primary care trusts, general practitioners and community pharmacists should work closely together in developing systems which best suit the needs of their local health communities.

External Consultants

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what mechanisms her Department has put in place to ensure that external consultants follow high standards of transparency and consultation when undertaking work for the NHS.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 16 October 2006
	The Department's procurement procedures ensure that all external consultants sign a legal contract of engagement, which includes standard terms and conditions to ensure the quality of the work performed and the standards within which consultants should operate.
	The Department also has a code of business conduct for all staff, the core principles of which apply also to external consultants employed by the Department.
	Local national health service organisations are responsible for the conduct of external consultants they employ.

General Practitioner (Practices)

Kenneth Clarke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether GP practices will be given financial budgets for special services when GP practice-based commissioning is introduced in the NHS.

Andy Burnham: The move to practice-based commissioning (PBC) does not affect the commissioning and provision of specialised services. Specialised services are not covered by PBC. Specialised services are high-cost, low-volume interventions and treatments that are commissioned by groups of primary care trusts, and it is therefore not appropriate to devolve this commissioning to practice level.

Hospital Minimum Waiting Times

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which strategic health authorities have authorised the use of hospital minimum waiting times as a means of demand management within the NHS; and which clinical conditions are specifically  (a) included and  (b) excluded from this system;
	(2)  what discussions have taken place with strategic health authorities about the introduction of hospital minimum waiting times as a mechanism of demand management; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: It is for local primary care trusts and national health service trusts to agree their local service agreements and include within these the national requirement to meet the current maximum waiting standards. Arrangements to ensure these service agreements are in place are for strategic health authorities.
	The minimum standards set for the NHS include maximum waiting times of 13 weeks for out-patients and 26 weeks for in-patients. Most patients, including those with the most urgent clinical need, are seen more quickly. As progress is made towards the December 2008 target of 18 weeks maximum wait from referral to treatment, these standards will fall further.

McKinsey and Company

Jeremy Hunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department has spent on work undertaken by McKinsey and Company in  (a) 2004-05,  (b) 2005-06 and  (c) 2006-07.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 16 October 2006
	The total amount spent by the Department with McKinsey and Company in the financial years 2004-05, 2005-06, and 2006-07 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			  Financial year  000 
			 2004-05 240 
			 2005-06 2,865 
			 2006-07(1) 9,964 
			 (1) To 30 September.

Medication Data

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many hospitals did not provide full information to  (a) general practitioners and  (b) patient carers on medication at discharge in the latest period in which performance data were collected.

Andy Burnham: This information is not collected centrally by the Department.
	Information on medicines management in national health service acute and specialist trusts was published on 11 August 2006 by the Healthcare Commission. This information is available on the Commission's website at:
	www.healthcarecommission.org.uk/serviceproviderinformation/reviewsandinspections/acutehospitalportfolio/medicinesmanage ment2005/2006.cfm

Mental Health Bill

Kitty Ussher: To ask the Secretary of State for Health where the published responses to the public consultation on the draft Mental Health Bill may be found.

Rosie Winterton: A draft Bill was published for consultation in 2002. Copies of the responses to that consultation are available in the Library. A draft Bill was published for pre-legislative scrutiny in 2004. The evidence submitted to the pre-legislative scrutiny committee is contained in the committee's report, which is available on the Parliament website at www.publications. parliament.uk/pa/jt200405/jtselect/jt ment/79/7902. There was no public consultation to coincide with the pre-legislative scrutiny.
	The publication of the 2004 draft Bill was accompanied by a report, Improving Mental Health Law, which set out the Government's thinking on the issues raised by the 2002 consultation. This document is available in the Library on the Department's website at www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/08/89/18/04088918. pdf.
	In March 2006 we announced that, taking account of all the views expressed on the two draft Bills, we had decided to introduce a small number of changes to the Mental Health Act 1983. We plan to introduce an amending Bill as soon as parliamentary time allows.

New Testing Programmes

Sandra Gidley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what progress has been made with the introduction of human papilloma virus testing and liquid cytology testing; and what plans she has for future implementation;
	(2)  what funding was allocated to the implementation of liquid based cytology in the last three years; and what funds have been allocated for the next three years;
	(3)  which hospitals  (a) have introduced liquid based cytology and  (b) are scheduled to introduce liquid based cytology over the next year;
	(4)  how many women in each strategic health authority have  (a) taken up liquid cytology testing for cervical cancer and  (b) enrolled on human papilloma virus testing; and if she will make a statement;
	(5)  what assessment she has made of the merits of liquid cytology testing for cervical cancer since the use of the technique commenced.

Rosie Winterton: Good progress has been made with the implementation of liquid based cytology (LBC) across the national health service cervical screening programme. As at September 2006, of the 142 laboratories that process cervical screening samples 67 have fully implemented LBC and 35 are intending to implement LBC by March 2007.
	Some 1.2 million was allocated to the implementation of LBC in 2003-04 and 6 million in 2004-05. From 2005-06 onwards, funding is in primary care trust baselines and cannot be disaggregated.
	The following hospitals have fully implemented LBC:
	Scunthorpe General Hospital
	York District Hospital
	Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital (Grimsby)
	Doncaster Royal Infirmary
	Royal Hallamshire Hospital
	Leeds Teaching Hospitals
	Calderdale Royal Hospital
	University Hospital of North Durham
	Royal Victoria Infirmary (Newcastle)
	Kettering General Hospital
	Chesterfield and North Derby Royal Hospital
	Kings Mill Hospital (Mansfield)
	Nottingham City Hospital
	Pilgrim Hospital (Boston)
	Birmingham Women's Healthcare
	Princess Royal Hospital (Telford)
	County Hospital Hereford
	Chase Farm Hospital (London)
	University College Hospital (London)
	St. Mary's Hospital (London)
	West Middlesex Hospital (London)
	Ealing Hospital (London)
	Northwick Park Hospital (London)
	Queen Mary's Hospital (Sidcup)
	St. Thomas' Hospital (London)
	Mayday University Hospital (London)
	St. George's Hospital (London)
	Kingston Hospital
	St. Helier Hospital
	Darent Valley Hospital
	Medway Maritime Hospital
	William Harvey Hospital (Ashford)
	Epsom General Hospital
	Partnership Pathology Services (Guildford)
	Great Western Hospital (Swindon)
	Royal United Hospital (Bath)
	Cheltenham General Hospital
	Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
	Southmead Hospital (Bristol)
	Musgrove Park Hospital
	Derriford Hospital
	Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske)
	Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital
	Torbay Hospital
	Norfolk and Norwich Hospital
	West Anglia Cytology Services
	Whiston Hospital
	Leighton Hospital
	Macclesfield District Hospital
	Royal Liverpool Hospital
	University Hospital Aintree
	Warrington Hospital
	Arrowe Park Hospital
	Countess of Chester Hospital
	Cumberland Infirmary (Carlisle)
	West Cumberland Hospital (Whitehaven)
	Blackburn Royal Infirmary
	Burnley General Hospital
	Chorley and District Hospital
	Royal Lancaster Infirmary
	Southport General Infirmary
	Victoria Hospital (Blackpool)
	Birch Hill Hospital (Rochdale)
	Royal Bolton Hospital
	Royal Albert Edward Infirmary (Wigan)
	Tameside General Hospital
	The following hospitals are due to have implemented LBC by 31 March 2007:
	North Tees General Hospital
	Leicester Royal Infirmary
	Northampton General Hospital
	Birmingham Heartlands Hospital
	Good Hope Hospital (Birmingham)
	George Eliot Hospital (Nuneaton)
	Whittington Hospital (London)
	North Middlesex Hospital
	Royal Free Hospital (London)
	Havering Hospitals (London)
	King George Hospital (London)
	The Royal London Hospital
	Whipps Cross Hospital (London)
	Hammersmith Hospitals (London)
	Kings College Hospital (London)
	Lewisham Hospital
	Princes Royal University Hospital (Orpington)
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Greenwich)
	John Radcliffe Hospital (Oxford)
	Royal Berkshire Hospital
	Stoke Mandeville Hospital
	Wexham Park Hospital
	Wycombe General Hospital
	Pembury Hospital (Tunbridge Wells)
	Preston Hall (Aylesford)
	Bedford General Hospital
	Luton and Dunstable Hospital
	Queen Elizabeth II Hospital (Welwyn Garden City)
	Watford General Hospital
	Queen Elizabeth Hospital (King's Lynn)
	Bury General Hospital
	Manchester Cytology Centre
	Royal Oldham Hospital
	Stepping Hill Hospital (Stockport)
	It is not possible to say how many women have been screened using LBC techniques in each strategic health authority. Statistics on the programme are collected annually, and those programmes who converted to LBC would have done so at different times during the years of roll-out. As 72 per cent. of local screening programmes will have implemented LBC by 31 March 2007, we would expect nearly three million women to benefit from their cervical screening samples being processed with LBC techniques in 2007-08.
	LBC techniques began being introduced into the programme following a National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal published in October 2003. NICE is currently considering whether to review the appraisal based on any new evidence, which would include evidence from the national roll-out. Strict quality assurance and data collection are operated within the programme, and we would expect to start seeing an effect of LBC on the rate of inadequate samples when the statistics for 2005-06 are published in December 2006.
	Women are only offered human papilloma virus (HPV) testing in the NHS as part of clinical trials. As part of the pilot of LBC, which took place between 2001 and 2002, we also piloted the use of HPV testing as triage for women with mild or borderline test results. Following the receipt of the independent evaluation report of the HPV arm of the pilot in 2004, the advisory committee on cervical screening set up a dedicated working group to advise on how best to introduce HPV testing into the NHS cervical screening programme. A protocol for HPV testing sentinel sites has been developed, and the sites are expected to begin operations in 2007.
	There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of HPV testing as a primary screening tool. In addition to the pilot, the Government are funding two large studies looking into HPV testing as a primary screening tool:
	trial of management of borderline and other low grade abnormal smears, funded by the Medical Research Council. This study was set up to determine the most appropriate way to deal with HPV positive results and associated psychological issues. The study is due to report in 2007; and
	a randomised trial of HPV testing in primary cervical screening, funded by the Department's health technology assessment programme. This trial is investigating the use of HPV testing as a primary screening tool. The study is due to report in mid-2008.

NHS Finances

Justine Greening: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much her Department spent in each NHS trust on the  (a) Medical and Dental Education Levy and  (b) service increment for teaching in (i) 2004-05 and (ii) 2005-06; how much has been spent to date in 2006-07; and if she will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not held centrally. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her on 18 October 2006,  Official Report, column 1329W.

NHS Offices

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money was spent on  (a) relocation of NHS offices,  (b) purchasing new NHS office premises and  (c) refurbishment or upgrade of existing NHS office premises in each primary care trust in each of the last 10 years.

Andy Burnham: This information is not collected centrally. The responsibility for the relocation, purchasing and refurbishment or upgrade of office premises has been delegated to primary care trusts, and their predecessor bodies.

NHS Recruitment Costs

Helen Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much has been spent by the NHS on  (a) agents' fees for recruiting overseas nurses and  (b) professional conversion courses for overseas nurses in each year since 1997.

Rosie Winterton: This information is not collected centrally.

Older People (Health Services)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans she has to continue to monitor the implementation of  (a) the standard six criteria of the national service framework for older people and  (b) the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: The Department continues to monitor implementation of standard six of the national service framework for older people through the ongoing Royal College of Physicians' national audit of falls and bone health services.
	Implementation of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance, on the secondary prevention of osteoporotic fractures, continues to be managed by strategic health authorities.

Rosiglitazone

Philip Dunne: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when Rosiglitazone is expected to be made available to patients most at risk of developing diabetes;
	(2)  what estimate she has made of the likely annual cost to the NHS of providing Rosiglitazone to those likely to benefit from it;
	(3)  what representations she has received about the estimated number of patients who would benefit from Rosiglitazone.

Rosie Winterton: Rosiglitazone is not licensed for the prevention of type 2 diabetes.
	No estimate has been made of the likely annual cost to the national health service of providing Rosiglitazone to those likely to benefit from it. However, the following data show the current costs to the NHS for prescribing Rosiglitazone:
	
		
			  Net ingredient costs for the dispensing of glitazones 
			  Dispensing in the community 
			   
			   Pioglitazone  Metformin/Rosiglitazone  Rosiglitazone 
			 2005-06 15,794,860 13,420,190 46,822,312 
		
	
	
		
			  Dispensing in hospitals 
			   
			   Pioglitazone  Metformin/Rosiglitazone  Rosiglitazone 
			 2005-06 255,752 34,939 607,218 
		
	
	The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published recommendations in 2003 on the use of glitazones for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. NICE is currently reviewing this guidance as part of a review of all of its type 2 diabetes guidance which is due to be published in February 2008.
	I have received no representations about the estimated number of patients who would benefit from Rosiglitazone.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections  (a) in total and  (b) of (i) HIV, (ii) syphilis, (iii) gonorrhoea, (iv) Chlamydia, (v) herpes, (vi) genital warts and (vii) non specific infections there were in each year since 1995 in (A) the North East and (B) each primary care trust area in the North East.

Caroline Flint: The information requested at the primary care trust level is not available centrally. Information at strategic health authority (SHA) level is given in the following tables. HIV data is collected through a different process than data on sexually transmitted infections and is therefore shown separately.
	Diagnoses of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in total, North East Region
	
		
			  Table 1. Total number of new diagnoses at GUM clinics by year for the North East Region 
			   1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Total diagnoses 14,688 15,612 16,835 16,816 18,431 19,853 18,947 19,565 21,202 23,299 25,615 
		
	
	Diagnoses of STI, North East Region
	
		
			  Table 2: Number of specific diagnoses of STI at GUM clinics by year for the North East Region 
			  Diagnoses  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Primary and secondary syphilis 2 2 6 7 5 3 4 17 67 92 80 
			 Uncomplicated gonorrhoea 152 201 287 409 616 593 545 744 666 591 554 
			 Uncomplicated Chlamydia 1,510 1,658 1,969 1,824 2,259 2,330 2,354 2,763 3,415 4,454 4,676 
			 Genital herpes 396 383 378 361 459 531 464 480 467 476 619 
			 Genital warts 2,780 2,970 3,225 3,152 3,323 3,263 3,168 3,350 3,401 3,838 3,882 
			 NSGI 1,929 2,190 2,438 2,563 2,806 3,260 3,046 3,092 3,625 4,097 4,661 
			 Other Diagnoses 7,919 8,208 8,532 8,500 8,963 9,873 9,366 9,119 9,561 9,751 11,143 
		
	
	Diagnoses of STIs in total, North East Region
	
		
			  Table 3: Total number of new diagnoses at GUM clinics by year for the North East. 
			  SHA  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 10,072 10,715 11,683 11,500 12,339 13,042 12,527 12,829 13,599 15,235 17,377 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 4,616 4,897 5,152 5,316 6,092 6,811 6,420 6,736 7,603 8,064 8,238 
		
	
	Diagnoses of STI, North East Region
	
		
			  Table 4: Number of specific diagnoses of STI at GUM clinics by year for the North East Region 
			  SHA code  SHA  1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005 
			   Primary and secondary syphilis
			 Q09 Northumberland Tyne and Wear 1 0 3 5 1 1 2 16 56 74 58 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 1 2 3 2 4 2 2 1 11 18 22 
			  
			   Uncomplicated gonorrhoea
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 79 111 133 240 358 379 270 369 357 335 389 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 73 90 154 169 258 214 275 375 309 256 165 
			  
			   Uncomplicated Chlamydia
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 1,158 1,295 1,428 1,207 1,475 1,500 1,559 1,756 2,168 3,223 3,396 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 352 363 541 617 784 830 795 1,007 1,247 1,231 1,280 
			  
			   Genital herpes
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 308 300 298 285 365 378 365 376 339 341 467 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 88 83 80 76 94 153 99 104 128 135 152 
			   Genital warts
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 1,791 1,934 2,089 2,047 2,178 2,156 2,050 2,115 2,115 2,418 2,579 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 989 1,036 1,136 1,105 1,145 1,107 1,118 1,235 1,286 1,420 1,303 
			  
			   Non-specific genital infections
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 978 1,126 1,346 1,378 1,451 1,739 1,817 1,925 2,124 2,457 2,938 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 951 1,064 1,092 1,185 1,355 1,521 1,229 1,167 1,501 1,640 1,723 
			  
			   Other diagnoses
			 Q09 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 5,757 5,949 6,386 6,338 6,511 6,889 6,464 6,272 6,440 6,387 7,550 
			 Q10 County Durham and Tees Valley 2,162 2,259 2,146 2,162 2,452 2,984 2,902 2,847 3,121 3,364 3,593 
			  Note:  Data for tables 1 and 3 include all episodes by diagnoses made at the GUM clinics in the North East Region, England form 1995 to 2005.   Source:  Tables 1-4 is the STI KC60 statutory returns from 1995 - 2005, Health Protection Agency. 
		
	
	
		
			  Table 5: Individuals diagnosed and receiving care in the area with HIV in the North East Region within the calendar year by year of diagnosis, new and old strategic health authority (SHA)Cumulative data to the end of September 2006 
			   1995  1996  1997  1998  1999  2000  2001  2002  2003  2004  2005  Total 
			 North East (new SHA of diagnosis) 23 24 35 22 30 38 55 99 147 139 149 837 
			  
			  SHAs prior to re-organisation which North East SHA now covers 
			 County Durham and Tees Valley 6 2 7 3 5 9 16 25 35 35 47 211 
			  
			 Northumberland, Tyne and Wear 17 22 28 19 25 29 39 74 112 104 102 626 
			  Notes:  1. Data include individuals who have an existing infection as well as those who have a newly acquired infection.  2. Data may include duplicates for the same individual where records with different information could not be reconciled. 3. Data are based on reports received by the end of September 2006 and numbers may rise as further reports are received (particularly true for more recent years).

Smoking and Pregnancy

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the evidential basis was for the recent statement made by the Minister of State that pregnant teenagers smoke to try to reduce the size of their babies, and make delivery less painful; what steps she  (a) has taken and  (b) plans to take to warn pregnant teenagers of the risks of smoking to (i) themselves and (ii) their unborn babies; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: I made the observation, after having heard this issue anecdotally from both health professionals and young women, that some young pregnant women may take the message that smoking leads to low birth weight babies and that low birth weight or smaller babies may make childbirth less painful. It is important that we understand what stops young women making healthy choices and tailor our messages accordingly. In this case childbirth is no less painful if your baby is low weight.
	The Department's advice remains that women should not smoke during pregnancy. Women who smoke are less likely to carry their babies to full term and there is a 26 per cent. increased risk that they will miscarry or experience a stillbirth. Babies of smoking mothers are an average 200 g lighter at birth.

Strategic Health Authorities

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance has been issued to strategic health authorities (SHAs) to assist them in evaluating whether services should be retained at those hospitals currently being reviewed by the SHAs.

Andy Burnham: It is for strategic health authorities (SHAs) to determine which schemes should be reviewed and the Department has not issued any specific guidance to SHAs on evaluating services that should be retained. However, the Department has recently begun a piece of work with SHAs to understand which services might be subject to review and how the Department can support SHAs in this task.

Strategic Health Authorities

Shailesh Vara: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  which hospitals are the subject of review by strategic health authorities into the level of services they provide;
	(2)  how many reviews are being conducted by strategic health authorities (SHAs) into the level of services provided at hospitals in England and Wales; and which SHAs are conducting them.

Andy Burnham: It is for strategic health authorities (SHAs) to determine which schemes should be reviewed and the Department does not currently hold validated information. The Department has recently begun a piece of work with SHAs to understand which services might be subject to review and how the Department can support SHAs in this task.

Stroud Maternity Unit

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the future management of Stroud maternity unit.

Caroline Flint: The NHS south west has advised that at a meeting on 21 September 2006, the Cotswold and Vale, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury and West Gloucestershire Primary Care Trusts (PCT) Boards decided not to close Stroud maternity unit. The new Gloucestershire PCT will be considering the future of services at Stroud, and across the county in due course.

Temozolomide

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations she has received on the use of Temozolomide for the treatment of brain tumours in advance of the ratification of the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence guidance on the issue.

Rosie Winterton: The Department has received a number of letters in recent months about the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's appraisal of Temozolomide for newly diagnosed and high-grade brain cancer.
	NICE has yet to finalise its guidance to the national health service on this treatment.

Temozolomide

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidance she provides to primary care trusts making decisions about the use of Temozolomide.

Rosie Winterton: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence published guidance on the use of Temozolomide for recurrent malignant glioma (brain cancer) in April 2001. NICE is also developing guidance for the national health service on the use of Temozolomide for the treatment of newly diagnosed and high-grade brain cancer. Final guidance has not yet been issued.

ELECTORAL COMMISSION COMMITTEE

Electoral Commission Expenditure

Caroline Spelman: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission what the total expenditure was of the Electoral Commission in each year of its operation; and what its budget is for  (a) 2006-07 and  (b) 2007-08.

Peter Viggers: The Electoral Commission's Resource Accounts for 2005-06, which were laid before the House on 20 July as HC 1565, report that its net resource expenditure in 2005-06 was 21.916 million. The corresponding figures for earlier years are given in the commission's annual report and accounts for the years concerned; these have been laid before the House and are available in the Library. The Appropriation (No. 2) Act 2006 authorises net resources of 26.180 million for use by the Electoral Commission in 2006-07. The commission's Corporate Plan 2006-07 to 2010-11, which was laid before the House in April 2006 as HC 987, forecasts a net resource requirement for the commission in 2007-08 of 25.945 million.

Party Political Financing

Caroline Spelman: To ask the hon. Member for Gosport, representing the Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission 
	(1)  how much has been allocated for the Electoral Commission's conference on the regulation of political party financing;
	(2)  who has been invited to attend the Electoral Commission's conference on the regulation of political party financing.

Peter Viggers: I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the conference on the regulation of party finances held by the Electoral Commission in September for representatives of overseas regulatory organisations and academic specialists in this field.
	The commission informs me that the cost of the conference, which was attended by more than 60 delegates from 15 countries, was 45,000. The commission also incurred travel and subsistence costs of 14,000 in relation to the attendance of certain key speakers.
	I have asked the chief executive of the commission to write to my hon. Friend with details of those who were invited, and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.